2backward adjective
1 a : directed or turned toward the back
▪ a backward glance ▪ a backward baseball cap ▪ a sudden backward movement
b : done backward
▪ a backward somersault 2 [more backward; most backward] : behind others : not as advanced as others in learning or development
▪ (old-fashioned) He was a backward pupil who struggled to keep up in school. ▪ a technologically backward village that has no running water
▪ a backward glance ▪ a backward baseball cap ▪ a sudden backward movement
b : done backward
▪ a backward somersault
▪ (old-fashioned) He was a backward pupil who struggled to keep up in school. ▪ a technologically backward village that has no running water
— back·ward·ly adverb
— back·ward·ness noun [noncount]
▪ the technological backwardness of the village
▪ the technological backwardness of the village
