backward
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Related to backward: Backward Integration
back·ward
(băk′wərd)adj.
1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear.
2. Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to previous occurrence or normal use.
3. Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.
4. Behind others in progress or development: The technology was backward, but the system worked.
adv. or back·wards (-wərdz)
1. To or toward the back or rear.
2. With the back leading.
3. In a reverse manner or order.
4. To, toward, or into the past.
5. Toward a worse or less advanced condition.
back′ward·ly adv.
back′ward·ness n.
Usage Note: Most American English dictionaries list -wards as a spelling variant of the directional suffix -ward. Accordingly, two variants are provided for most of the adverbs that end with this suffix: backward/backwards, toward/towards, upward/upwards, and so on. Although both variants are considered acceptable, the -ward suffix is more common in American English, whereas the -wards suffix is more common in British English. This distinction is more prominent in edited prose than in casual writing or speech, possibly because many American copyeditors follow style manuals that recommend or prescribe the -ward variant. Despite this dialectal differentiation, there remains significant variation in usage among individuals and even among the different -ward words themselves. This variation is evident in the results from our 2012 usage survey: backwards and towards were deemed acceptable by 72 percent and 69 percent of Panelists, respectively, but only 38 percent found forwards to be acceptable. Note that for those -ward words that also function as adjectives, the form without the s is standard: a backward look; a westward journey.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
backward
(ˈbækwəd)adj
1. (usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance.
2. retarded in physical, material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a backward child.
3.
a. of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionary
b. (in combination): backward-looking.
4. reluctant or bashful: a backward lover.
5. (Chess & Draughts) chess (of a pawn) behind neighbouring pawns and unable to be supported by them
adv
a variant of backwards
ˈbackwardly adv
ˈbackwardness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
back•ward
(ˈbæk wərd)adv. Also, back′wards.
1. toward the back or rear.
2. with the back foremost.
3. in the reverse of the usual or right way: counting backward from 100.
4. toward the past.
5. toward a less advanced state; retrogressively.
adj. 6. directed toward the back or past.
7. reversed; returning: a backward movement.
8. behind in time, progress, or development: a backward learner.
9. bashful or hesitant; shy: a backward suitor.
Idioms: 1. backward(s) and forward(s), in every detail; thoroughly.
2. bend, lean, or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort.
[1250–1300]
back′ward•ly, adv.
back′ward•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. 1. [画像:backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear]backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"
regressive - opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state
retrospective - concerned with or related to the past; "retrospective self-justification"
forward - at or near or directed toward the front; "the forward section of the aircraft"; "a forward plunge down the stairs"; "forward motion"
2. [画像:backward - (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature]backward - (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature; "a backward lover"
timid - showing fear and lack of confidence
forward - used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty; "a forward child badly in need of discipline"
3. backward - retarded in intellectual development
archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression
4. backward - having made less than normal progress; "an economically backward country"
Adv. 1. [画像:backward - at or to or toward the back or rear]backward - at or to or toward the back or rear; "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"
2. [画像:backward - in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal]backward - in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal; "it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'"; "the child put her jersey on backward"
3. [画像:backward - in or to or toward a past time]backward - in or to or toward a past time; "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
backward
adjective
1. reverse, inverted, inverse, back to front, rearward, BWD (S.M.S.) He did a backward flip.
reverse forward, frontward
reverse forward, frontward
2. regressive, negative, downward, for the worse, degenerative, retrograde, retrogressive a backward step into unskilled work
3. underdeveloped, primitive, undeveloped, unsophisticated We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country.
4. slow, behind, stupid, retarded, deficient, underdeveloped, subnormal, half-witted, behindhand, slow-witted I was slow to walk and my parents thought I was backward.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
backward
adjective1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear:
2. Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner:
3. Exhibiting lack of education or knowledge:
4. Having only a limited ability to learn and understand:
Informal: soft.
5. Not progressing and developing as fast as others, as in economic and social aspects:
6. Economically and socially below standard:
7. Clinging to obsolete ideas:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إلى الخَلْفمُتَخَلِّف عَقْليا أو جَسَديّاامُتَخَلِّف، غير مُتَطَوِّر
obrácený zpětopožděnýsměřující vzadzaostalý
bagudrettettilbageståendeunderudviklet
arriéré sens devant derrière
elmaradotthátrafelé irányuló
á eftir tímanumseinòroskasem beinist aftur á bak/til baka
atbulomatgalinisatsilikęsatsilikimasiš kailio nertis
atpakaļ vērstsatpalicisneattīstīts
spätný
nazajritenskozaostal
backward
[ˈbækwəd]A. ADJ
2. [pupil, country] → atrasado
B. ADV
1. [look] → atrás, hacia atrás ; [move] → hacia atrás
to walk/fall backward → andar/caer hacia atrás
to go backward and forward → ir y venir, ir de acá para allá
this is a step backward (fig) → esto supone un paso atrás
see also bend over
to walk/fall backward → andar/caer hacia atrás
to go backward and forward → ir y venir, ir de acá para allá
this is a step backward (fig) → esto supone un paso atrás
see also bend over
2. (= in reverse) → al revés
to read sth backward → leer algo para atrás
to know sth backward → saberse algo al dedillo or de pe a pa
to read sth backward → leer algo para atrás
to know sth backward → saberse algo al dedillo or de pe a pa
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
backward
[ˈbækwərd] adj
[movement, glance] → en arrière
backward and forward movement → mouvement de va-et-vient backward roll, backward somersault
backward and forward movement → mouvement de va-et-vient backward roll, backward somersault
(old-fashioned or offensive) [child] → retardé(e) (old-fashioned)
(= shy) → hésitant(e)
adv = backwards backward-looking backward looking [ˈbækwərdlʊkɪŋ] adj (= regressive, reactionary) [attitude, approach] → rétrograde ; [culture, country, organization] → rétrograde
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
backward
adj
backward and forward movement → Vor-und Zurückbewegung f; backward flow of information → Rückfluss m → von Daten ; a backward glance → ein Blick zurück ; a backward step (fig) → ein Schritt m → zurück
(fig) economy, region → rückständig ; (pej: = retarded) child → zurückgeblieben ; to be socially/economically backward → gesellschaftlich/wirtschaftlich rückständig sein
adv = backwards
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
backward
[ˈbækwəd] adja. (motion, glance) → all'indietro
b. (pupil) → che è indietro, tardivo/a (pej) (country) → arretrato/a
c. (reluctant) backward (in doing sth) → restio/a (a fare qc)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
backward
(ˈbӕkwəd) adjective1. aimed or directed backwards. He left without a backward glance. terug إلى الخَلْف обратен para trás obrácený zpět, směřující vzad zurück bagudrettet; uden at se sig tilbage που έχει κατεύθυνση προς τα πίσω hacia atrás tahapoole به سوی عقب taaksepäin suuntautuva en arrière, vers l'arrière לאחור पिछड़ा हुआ upravljen prema natrag hátrafelé irányuló ke belakang sem beinist aftur á bak/til baka indietro 後方への 뒤를 향해서 atgalinis, nukreiptas atgal atpakaļ vērsts ke belakang naar achteren bakoverrettet, tilbake skierowany do tyłu شاته، څټ، په شا para trás înapoi, îndărăt обратный obrátiť sa späť nazaj obrnjen unazad bakåtriktad, bakåtvänd ซึ่งไปทางข้างหลัง geri, geriye 向後的 зворотний پیچھے کی جانب về phía sau 向后的
2. less advanced in mind or body than is normal for one's age. a backward child. agtergeblewe مُتَخَلِّف عَقْليا أو جَسَديّاا недоразвит atrasado opožděný (ve vývoji) zurückgeblieben tilbagestående; sent udviklet καθυστερημένος retrasado arengupeetusega عقب افتاده alikehittynyt arriéré מפגר पीछे की ओर zaostao sérült (gyermek), fogyatékos terbelakang seinþroska ritardato 発達の遅い 퇴보의 atsilikęs, neišsivystęs atpalicis; neattīstīts mundur achterlijk tilbakestående, seint utviklet opóźniony w rozwoju بېرته پاتى، غير عادي (د نارمل ضد) atrasado retardat слаборазвитый zaostalý zaostal zaostao efterbliven, sen สมองช้า geri kalmış, yavaş 發展遲緩的 відсталий پھسڈی ، کند ذہن chậm hiểu 智力差的,进步缓慢的
3. late in developing a modern culture, mechanization etc. That part of Britain is still very backward; the backward peoples of the world. agtergeblewe مُتَخَلِّف، غير مُتَطَوِّر изостанал atrasado zaostalý rückständig underudviklet υπανάπτυκτος atrasado (arengus) mahajäänud عقب مانده؛ پیشرفت نکرده takapajuinen arriéré נחשל zaostao elmaradott terbelakang á eftir tímanum in ritardo 遅れている 과거로 거슬러 올라가서 atsilikęs atpalicis; neattīstīts mundur achtergebleven underutviklet, tilbakestående zapóźniony وروسته باتی: atrasado înapoiat отсталый zaostalý nerazvit zaostao efterbliven, på efterkälken ซึ่งมีการพัฒน�ทีล้าหลัง az gelişmiş, geri kalmış 落後的 відсталий قدامت پسند lạc hậu 落后的
ˈbackwardness noun agtergeblewenheid تَخَلُّف назадничевост atraso zaostalost, opožděnost die Rückständigkeit tilbageståenhed καθυστέρηση ανάπτυξης atraso mahajäämus عقب افتادگی takapajuisuus arriération פגור, פיגור पिछड़ापन zaostalost fejletlenség, visszamaradottság keterbelakangan tregða; óframfærni; seinn þroski arretratezza; tardività 発達の遅いこと 퇴보 atsilikimas atpalicība kemunduran achterlijkheid det å være tilbakestående, treghet zapóźnienie بیرته پاته کیدنه atraso retardare; înapoiere отсталость zaostalosť zaostalost zaostalost efterblivenhet ความล้าหลัง geri kalmışlık 落後 відсталість قدامت پسندی tình trạng lạc hậu 落后
ˈbackwards adverb1. towards the back. He glanced backwards. terugwaarts إلى الوَراء назад para trás zpět, dozadu zurück bagud; tilbage πίσω hacia atrás tagasi به سوی عقب taaksepäin vers l'arrière לאחור पीछे की ओर prema natrag hátra(felé) mundur aftur (á bak), til baka indietro, all'indietro 後方に 뒤를 향해 atgal atpakaļ ke belakang naar achteren baklengs, bakover, tilbake do tyłu شا خواته، په شا para trás înapoi назад nazad, späť nazaj unazad bakåt ไปทางข้างหลัง geriye, arkaya 向後地 назад پیچھے về phía sau 向后地
2. with one's back facing the direction one is going in. The child walked backwards into a lamp-post. agteruit إلى الخَلْف، باتِّجاهٍ عَكْسي назад de ré pozpátku rückwärts baglæns προς τα πίσω de espaldas a selg ees عقبکی takaperin à reculons אחורנית natraške háttal mundur aftur á bak all'indietro うしろ向きに 뒤를 향해 atbulom, užpakaliu atmuguriski mengundur achteruit baklengs tyłem په شا às arrecuas cu spatele, de-a-ndărătelea задом наперёд pospiatky ritensko unazad baklänges ถอยหลัง geri geri, tersine 倒退著 задом наперед پیچھے کی جانب giật lùi 倒退着
3. in the opposite way to that which is usual. Can you count from 1 to 10 backwards? (= starting at 10 and counting to 1). agteruit بِطَريقَةٍ عَكْسِيَّةٍ отзад напред ao contrário pozpátku rückwärts baglæns ανάποδα al revés tagurpidi معکوس؛ وارونه käänteisesti à l'envers לאחור unatrag vissza(felé) ke belakang aftur á bak a ritroso 逆に 거꾸로 atgal atpakaļ; no otra gala ke belakang van achter naar voren baklengs, bakfra do tyłu غير عادي (د نارمل ضد)، سرچپه، بالعكس às avessas înapoi, invers; pe dos в обратном порядке spätne nazaj unazad baklänges ถอยหลัง tersine 往回 в зворотному напрямі الٹا / الٹی ngược 倒,逆
backwards and forwards in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The dog ran backwards and forwards across the grass. heen en weer, heen en terug إلى الوَراء ثًمَّ إلى الأَمام напред-назад para trás e para a frente sem a tam vor und zurück frem og tilbage μπρος πίσω de un lado para otro edasi-tagasi پس و پیش؛ عقب و جلو taaksepäin ja eteenpäin de long en large הלוך ושוב कभी आगे कभी पीछे amo-tamo előre-hátra bolak balik fram og til baka, fram og aftur avanti e indietro 前後に 이리저리 pirmyn ir atgal uz priekšu un atpakaļ; šurp un turp ke belakang dan ke depan heen en weer fram og tilbake tam i z powrotem مخته او شاته para trás e para diante încolo şi-ncoace взад и вперёд sem a tam po dolgem in počez tamo-amo fram och tillbaka กลับไปกลับมา bir ileri bir geri 來回地 взад і вперед, туди-сюди آگے پیچھے tới lui 来回地
bend/fall over backwards to try very hard. He bent over backwards to get us tickets for the concert. agteroor buig يُحاوِلُ بِكُلِّ جُهْدِهِ старая се esforçar-se muito moci se přetrhnout, hodně se snažit sich fast überschlagen gøre alt for κάνω τα αδύνατα δυνατά hacer lo imposible, desvivirse kõigest väest pingutama سخت تلاش کردن tehdä kaikkensa se mettre en quatre (pour) נִיסָה מאוֹד unatrag kezét-lábát töri berusaha keras leggja sig í líma, kappkosta farsi in quattro 懸命の努力をする 최선을 다하다 iš kailio nertis ļoti censties bersungguh-sungguh zijn uiterste best doen legge seg i selen stawać na głowie دیر کوشش کول esforçar-se muito a se face luntre şi punte из кожи вон лезть urobiť všetko preto, aby vse sile napeti potruditi se anstränga sig till det yttersta ตั้งใจทําอย่างมาก çok uğraşmak (為了某事)竭盡所能 старатися з усіх сил; із шкури лізти انتہائی کوشش کرنا cố gắng 拼命(作某事)
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
backward
a. atrasado-a, tardío-a, lento-a, retraído-a;
adv. atrás, hacia atrás, al revés; [direction] en sentido contrario.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
backward
adv hacia atrásEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.