backwards
An action that happens in reverse order or direction.
When we talk about moving backwards, it doesn't mean moving away from something, but rather going the opposite way. Imagine you're walking along a road and you decide to head back home – you wouldn't call that "forwards" movement either. When you move backwards, you're changing your direction, often to go in a different or more comfortable path. Think about when you're trying to understand something complicated, and you need to rewind it in your mind – that's an example of moving backwards as well.
The word "backwards" can be used as both an adverb (moving or going) and an adjective (relating to direction). If we call a movie that shows events happening out of order a "reverse" one, we're implying the same idea: moving in reverse.
How common is "backwards"?
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
adjective
Oriented toward the back.
Example: The battleship had three backwards guns at the stern, in addition to the primary complement.
Real examples of "backwards" in context
