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Antonyms for backward

Grammar : Adj
Spell : bak-werd
Phonetic Transcription : ˈbæk wərd


Definition of backward

Origin :
  • c.1300, from abakward, from Old English on bæc (see back (adv.)) + -weard adjectival and adverbial suffix (see -ward). Old English had the adverb bæcling. As an adjective, from 1550s. Meaning "behindhand with regard to progress" is first attested 1690s. To ring bells backward (from lowest to highest), c.1500, was a signal of alarm for fire or invasion, or to express dismay. Another Middle English word for "backward, wrongly" was arseward (c.1400).
  • adj toward the rear
  • adj bashful
  • adj slow in growth
Example sentences :
  • The recoil, catching him in a bad posture, knocked him backward.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • Fair on each shield struck a lance, and backward reeled their holders.
  • Extract from : « Fair Margaret » by H. Rider Haggard
  • The dog-musher indicated White Fang with a backward thrust of his thumb.
  • Extract from : « White Fang » by Jack London
  • Have the children of the well-to-do been backward in volunteering?
  • Extract from : « War Taxation » by Otto H. Kahn
  • The Dauphine was not backward in repeating this word for word.
  • Extract from : « The Memoirs of the Louis XIV. and The Regency, Complete » by Elizabeth-Charlotte, Duchesse d'Orleans
  • He read it and reread it over and over again––forward and backward, too.
  • Extract from : « The Book of Khalid » by Ameen Rihani
  • He will remark with interest on the backward state of solid geometry, which, alas!
  • Extract from : « The Republic » by Plato
  • His huge arms, with amazing power in them, bent Lee backward.
  • Extract from : « The World Beyond » by Raymond King Cummings
  • Even the most backward among the trees had commenced to unfold their buds.
  • Extract from : « Murder Point » by Coningsby Dawson
  • A backward jerk of the head was the only sign he permitted himself.
  • Extract from : « The Night Riders » by Ridgwell Cullum

Synonyms for backward

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019