backwards
Britishadverb
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towards the rear
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with the back foremost
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in the reverse of usual order or direction
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to or towards the past
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into a worse state
the patient was slipping backwards
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towards the point of origin
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informal to make a special effort, esp in order to please
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informal to understand completely
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At other times, he hasn’t been as tolerant, saying in a social-media post in late August that communities will “end up being backwards and poor” if they don’t welcome data centers.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
A strong start to the season was followed by them falling backwards somewhat as others upgraded their cars.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Advertisers are bending over backwards to fit “maxxing” into their marketing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“This is working backwards on affordability,” Cassidy said.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Tristran closed his fingers about the snowdrop, concealing it from view, and he took a couple of steps backwards.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
