backwards

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbækwɜːdz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbækwɝdz/
• Hyphenation: back‧wards

Etymology 1

From backward +‎ -s. See also -s (“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).

Adjective

backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)

1. Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.

Derived terms

• ass-backwards
• backwards-compatible
• backwardsness

Etymology 2

From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward +‎ -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).

Adverb

backwards (comparative more backwards, superlative most backwards)

1. Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
   • 1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in Railway Magazine, page 150:

     The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a train backwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying "Hurry up, ma'am; train's going!"—and pushes her in again!

Derived terms

• ass-backwards
• look as if one has been dragged through a hedge backwards

Related terms

Other terms using the suffix -wards

• outwards
• inwards
• forwards
• backwards
• sidewards
• leewards
• windwards
• westwards
• eastwards
• southwards
• northwards
• shorewards
• landwards
• seawards
• skywards
• towards
• upwards
• downwards
• homewards
• sternwards

Anagrams

• drawbacks, draws back