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.
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
He said that share prices seem to bake in that the company will move backwards rather than progress toward this benchmark.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
She did not answer, and we strolled backwards and forwards on the lawns.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
