Backward | Mean of backward in English Dictionary

/ˈbækwɚd/

• toward the back
1. a sudden movement backward, not forward
2. I heard a noise behind me and glanced backward.
3. He pushed the throttle backward.
4. She took a small step backward.
5. Can you skate backward?
• opposite to the usual way
1. Count backward from 10.
• toward the past
1. a journey backward in time
2. The narrative moves backward and forward in time.

• to or toward a less advanced state or condition
1. His new job, which paid less and had fewer responsibilities, felt like a step backward.
• to make a great effort to help someone or to reach agreement with someone
1. The salesman said he would bend over backward to make the deal.
2. I've leaned over backward to please you—and you haven't even said thank you!
• directed or turned toward the back
1. a backward glance
2. a backward baseball cap
3. a sudden backward movement
• done backward
1. a backward somersault
• behind others
1. (old-fashioned) He was a backward pupil who struggled to keep up in school.
2. a technologically backward village that has no running water