backward
backward — adjective
1. used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead
used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead
The train has backward-facing seats near the last door.
compound adjective: backward-facing seats
During practice, Mia tried a backward roll on the mat.
collocation: backward roll
The dancer took two backward steps to avoid the wet paint.
A backward glance at the house made Noah smile.
- forward
means directed toward the front or ahead
- front-facing
is especially used for screens, seats, and cameras
文法句型
a backward glance
a backward roll
backward-facing seats
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used before a noun. When the word describes how someone moves after a verb, adverb/1 is usually the better choice.
常見錯誤
2. less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better
less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better methods
Many families left the village because poor roads kept it backward.
Cutting library hours would be a backward step for the school.
collocation: backward step
Visitors called the town backward because children queued for the only public computer.
Old machines made the factory seem backward beside nearby plants.
- underdeveloped
is more formal and is especially used for economies or infrastructure
- behind
is broader and often compares progress with another person or group
- undeveloped
can focus on land or a sector that has not grown much yet
- retrograde
is formal and strongly stresses movement in the wrong direction
- advanced
means far developed or modern
- modern
stresses up-to-date methods or conditions
- progressive
suggests support for new and improving ideas
文法句型
a backward area
a backward step
seem backward
用法筆記
Often used for places, economies, systems, or decisions rather than for one shy person. Distinguish from adjective/4, which is an old-fashioned and often offensive label about a child's learning.
常見錯誤
3. quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure
quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure
At first, Lena was backward about asking the coach for help.
pattern: backward about + -ing
The new boy was backward about joining the others at lunch.
After one kind reply, Mei grew less backward with customers.
At the first meeting, Daniel seemed backward about sharing his ideas.
文法句型
be backward about asking
seem backward with strangers
grow less backward
用法筆記
This sense describes hesitation in social situations. It is usually used after be, seem, stay, or grow, and often appears with about or with.
常見錯誤
4. used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other
used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other children
Older school records called some pupils backward, which teachers reject now.
reported outdated label
The doctor said the child was not backward, just late in reading.
That report used backward for children who needed extra support.
Modern schools avoid backward and use clearer support terms.
- slow-learning
describes difficulty learning, but it can still sound negative
- delayed
is broader and can refer to development in general, not only school learning
- quick-learning
describes someone who learns easily and fast
- able
is broad and does not focus only on learning speed
文法句型
be called backward
be described as backward
seem backward at school
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and often offensive. Avoid using it for children today; describe the exact learning difficulty instead, or use respectful current terms chosen by the person, family, or school.
常見錯誤
backward — adverb
1. toward the space behind you or behind something else
toward the space behind you or behind something else
Owen stepped backward when the dog barked at the gate.
verb + backward for movement
Please pull the chair backward to make room for Ana.
The crowd moved backward as smoke filled the kitchen.
Ella bent backward to look under the low shelf.
文法句型
step backward
move backward
bend backward
用法筆記
Use this sense for physical movement or position. Distinguish it from adverb/2, which is about reverse order or the wrong way round.
常見錯誤
2. in the opposite order, direction, or position from the normal one
in the opposite order, direction, or position from the normal one
Count backward from twenty before you open your eyes.
count backward from + number
The video played backward, so the glass jumped onto the table.
play backward
Rita wore her sweater backward and laughed at the mistake.
Jae wrote his name backward on the bathroom mirror.
- in reverse
is clearer in formal or technical instructions
- the wrong way round
is informal and especially common for clothes or objects
文法句型
count backward from ten
play backward
wear something backward
用法筆記
This sense is broader than adverb/1. It covers reversed sequence, clothing the wrong way round, mirror writing, and recordings played in reverse.
常見錯誤
3. toward an earlier time, stage, or memory
toward an earlier time, stage, or memory
The film moves backward to the summer before the fire.
move backward in time
From that old photo, Mira traced backward through her family story.
The lesson looks backward at how the town began.
During dinner, Arun's thoughts went backward to the night at the station.
- back
is more everyday in phrases such as years back or look back
- backward in time
makes the time meaning explicit and is common in science fiction or film talk
- retrospectively
is formal and is used for looking back from a later point
文法句型
look backward at the past
move backward in time
trace backward through history
用法筆記
Common with stories, memories, family history, and lessons that return to an earlier point. Unlike adverb/2, the focus is time, not reverse order.
backward — noun
1. a rear or earlier part, especially in rare literary use
a rear or earlier part, especially in rare literary use
In the play, the king stares into the backward of time.
literary phrase: the backward of time
On the old map, the backward of the farm shows two barns.
The poem turns from bright noon to the backward of memory.
The mayor's speech reached into the backward of history for answers.
- rear
is the normal everyday word for the back part of something
- past
fits the time meaning better than the physical one
- background
can overlap in figurative use, but usually means surrounding information rather than a rear part
文法句型
the backward of time
the backward of history
the backward of the farm
用法筆記
This noun is very rare and mostly literary. It often appears in phrases about time or history rather than in everyday talk about physical space.