backward

Meanings

• adjective, noun

  moving, coming, or growing opposite to the forward direction

  - "The traffic was moving backward due to an accident."
  - "The car could not go backward on the steep hill."
  - "The film showed scenes in backward order."
  - "He took a step backward to avoid the puddle."

• adjective, adverb

  opposite in direction, order, or development

  - "The progress was backward due to the strike."
  - "The company's sales were in a backward trend."
  - "The child's development was backward for his age."
  - "The speech was delivered backward for comedic effect."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75899446"

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Antonyms

First World , developed , forward , progressive , forward , forwards

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Synonyms

Third World , developing , antediluvian , antiquated , backwards , parachronistic , retrograde , forepast , historical , overdue , tardy , retrograde , backwards

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with backward
arc , hark , lark , spark

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Homonyms

Words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins

1. backward (English) : moving, coming, or growing opposite to the forward direction
   

2. backward (English) : lacking knowledge or experience; uneducated
   

3. backward (English) : a person who is backward or unprogressive
   

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Homophones

Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

1. backward (English) : moving, coming, or growing opposite to the forward direction
   

2. backward (English) : lacking knowledge or experience; uneducated
   

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Variants

List of all variants of backward that leads to same result
backward , backwards , bend over backward , bending over backwards , bends over backwards , bent over backwards , lean over backward , leaned over backwards , leaning over backwards , leans over backwards , backwardly , backwardness , backwardnesses , backward compatibilities , backward compatibility , backward compatible , backwards compatibilities , backwards compatibility , backwards compatible , backward-looking , know something backward and forward , bend , bend her ear , bend his ear , bend its ear , bend my ear , bend one's ear , bend our ear , bend our ears , bend over backwards , bend their ear , bend their ears , bend your ear , bend your ears , bendable , bending , bending her ear , bending his ear , bending its ear , bending my ear , bending our ear , bending our ears , bending over backward , bending their ear , bending their ears , bending your ear , bending your ears , bends , bends her ear , bends his ear , bends its ear , bends my ear , bends our ear , bends our ears , bends over backward , bends their ear , bends their ears , bends your ear , bends your ears , bent , bent her ear , bent his ear , bent its ear , bent my ear , bent our ear , bent our ears , bent over backward , bent their ear , bent their ears , bent your ear , bent your ears , fall , fall all over herself , fall all over himself , fall all over itself , fall all over myself , fall all over oneself , fall all over ourselves , fall all over themselves , fall all over yourself , fall all over yourselves , fall apart , fall behind , fall between two stools , fall flat , fall for , fall from grace , fall home , fall into line , fall on , fall on her face , fall on her sword , fall on his face , fall on his sword , fall on its face , fall on its sword , fall on my face , fall on my sword , fall on one's face , fall on one's sword , fall on our faces , fall on our swords , fall on their face , fall on their faces , fall on their sword , fall on their swords , fall on your face , fall on your faces , fall on your sword , fall on your swords , fall over backward , fall over herself , fall over himself , fall over itself , fall over myself , fall over oneself , fall over ourselves , fall over themselves , fall over yourself , fall over yourselves , fall short , fall upon , fallen , fallen all over herself , fallen all over himself , fallen all over itself , fallen all over myself , fallen all over ourselves , fallen all over themselves , fallen all over yourself , fallen all over yourselves , fallen apart , fallen behind , fallen between two stools , fallen flat , fallen for , fallen from grace , fallen home , fallen into line , fallen on , fallen on her face , fallen on her sword , fallen on his face , fallen on his sword , fallen on its face , fallen on its sword , fallen on my face , fallen on my sword , fallen on one's face , fallen on our faces , fallen on our swords , fallen on their face , fallen on their faces , fallen on their sword , fallen on their swords , fallen on your face , fallen on your faces , fallen on your sword , fallen on your swords , fallen over backward , fallen over herself , fallen over himself , fallen over itself , fallen over myself , fallen over ourselves , fallen over themselves , fallen over yourself , fallen over yourselves , fallen short , fallen upon , falling , falling all over herself , falling all over himself , falling all over itself , falling all over myself , falling all over ourselves , falling all over themselves , falling all over yourself , falling all over yourselves , falling apart , falling behind , falling between two stools , falling flat , falling for , falling from grace , falling home , falling into line , falling on , falling on her face , falling on her sword , falling on his face , falling on his sword , falling on its face , falling on its sword , falling on my face , falling on my sword , falling on one's face , falling on our faces , falling on our swords , falling on their face , falling on their faces , falling on their sword , falling on their swords , falling on your face , falling on your faces , falling on your sword , falling on your swords , falling over backward , falling over herself , falling over himself , falling over itself , falling over myself , falling over ourselves , falling over themselves , falling over yourself , falling over yourselves , falling short , falling upon , falls , falls all over herself , falls all over himself , falls all over itself , falls all over themselves , falls apart , falls behind , falls between two stools , falls flat , falls for , falls from grace , falls home , falls into line , falls on , falls on her face , falls on her sword , falls on his face , falls on his sword , falls on its face , falls on its sword , falls on one's face , falls on their face , falls on their sword , falls over backward , falls over herself , falls over himself , falls over itself , falls over themselves , falls short , falls upon , fell , fell all over herself , fell all over himself , fell all over itself , fell all over myself , fell all over ourselves , fell all over themselves , fell all over yourself , fell all over yourselves , fell apart , fell behind , fell between two stools , fell flat , fell for , fell from grace , fell home , fell into line , fell on , fell on her face , fell on her sword , fell on his face , fell on his sword , fell on its face , fell on its sword , fell on my face , fell on my sword , fell on one's face , fell on our faces , fell on our swords , fell on their face , fell on their faces , fell on their sword , fell on their swords , fell on your face , fell on your faces , fell on your sword , fell on your swords , fell over backward , fell over herself , fell over himself , fell over itself , fell over myself , fell over ourselves , fell over themselves , fell over yourself , fell over yourselves , fell short , fell upon , step backward , step backward/forward , step forward

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

backwards, backwardly, backwardsness

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English bacweard, from bac 'back' + weard 'guard' or 'keep'

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'backward' is related to the word 'back', which comes from the Old English word 'bac'.

2. In some cultures, being 'backward' or 'behind' is considered a positive trait, as it shows humility and a willingness to learn.

3. The term 'backward compatibility' in technology refers to the ability of new systems to use and support old software or hardware.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. reverse: The opposite of forward; moving, coming, or growing in the opposite direction.

2. retrograde: Moving, coming, or growing in the opposite direction, especially of a planet in its orbit.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'backward' has been used to describe characters or situations that are primitive, unsophisticated, or behind in progress. In art, it can refer to a technique called 'reversal painting' where the artist paints the image in reverse, which can be visually intriguing.

How to Memorize "backward"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine the word 'backward' written in your mind.
   - Visualize the direction opposite to forward.
   - Create a mental image of moving or growing in the opposite direction.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'backward' with the direction opposite to forward.
   - Link it to the concept of moving or growing in the opposite direction.
   - Think of words like 'reverse', 'retrograde', or 'opposite'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the mnemonic 'B-ack-ward' to remember the spelling and meaning.
   - Create a sentence using the word 'backward' to help remember its meaning.
   - Create a mental image of something moving backward to remember the word.

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Memorize "backward" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize backward is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

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2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.