backwards

Definitions

1. 1.Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
2. 2.On the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.
3. 3.Toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke.
4. 4.By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.
5. 5.From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden.
6. 6.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 (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "backwards" mean?
• What is another word for "backwards"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is backwards.

• What is toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward called?
• What is on the back, or with the back downward. Thou wilt fall backward. Shak called?
• What is toward, or in, past time or events; ago. Some reigns backward. Locke called?
• What is by way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies called?
• What is from a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin. The work went backward. Dryden called?
• What is in a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards. We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak called?