back, backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
(adverb) at or to or toward the back or rear; âhe moved backâ; âtripped when he stepped backwardâ; âshe looked rearward out the window of the carâ
backward, backwards
(adverb) in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal; âitâs easy to get the âiâ and the âeâ backward in words like âseizeâ and âsiegeââ; âthe child put her jersey on backwardâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)
Oriented toward the back.
Reversed.
(derogatory) Behind current trends or technology.
Clumsy, inept, or inefficient, especially in learning.
• In senses 3 and 4, and often in American English, backward is preferred.
• (oriented toward the back)
• (reversed): mirror image, switched, back to front
• (behind current trends or technology): crude, dated, obsolete, primitive; see also obsolete
• (clumsy, inept, or inefficient): awkward, fumbling, incompetent, poor; see also unskilled
backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)
Toward the back.
In the opposite direction to usual.
In a manner such that the back precedes the front.
towards the past; ago
• In written American English, backward is more common.
• Strictly speaking, backwards is an adverb and backward is an adjective in British English; in American English, the rule may be reversed. This follows the same usage for similar words ending in -ward/-wards and -way/-ways. See also -wise.
• Also, even though an adverb may be used in adjectival combinations (eg a quickly moving car), only the -ward forms are commonly used in adjectival combinations, e.g.
• (toward the back): hindwards, rearward, retrograde
• (in the opposite direction of usual): contrariwise, reversedly; See also contrarily
• (so that the back precedes the front): back to front, in reverse; See also back to front
• drawbacks
Source: Wiktionary
Back"ward, Back"wards, adv. Etym: [Back, adv. + -ward.]
1. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.
2. Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
3. On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.
4. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.
5. By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.
6. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden.
7. In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
4 May 2025
(adjective) (of something seen or heard) clearly defined; âa sharp photographic imageâ; âthe sharp crack of a twigâ; âthe crisp snap of dry leaves underfootâ
According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by AlcaldĂa Municipal de ChinchinĂĄ (Colombia) at Parque de BolĂvar, ChinchinĂĄ, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.
