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.
I’m in my airplane outfit, no makeup and a backwards hat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
"I never realised our laws were so backwards," said Jessie, who is in her 30s.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Now, epidemiologists are working to interview anyone who tested positive for cyclosporiasis about the food they consumed in the one to two weeks before falling ill, looking backwards to find the source.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
There are several reasons why this would be a step backwards.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Ivan flew backwards, while his sword dropped from his hand and tumbled several feet away.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
