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backwards

Pronunciation: [ˈbæk.wɚdz]

Word

Learn how to use backwards in a sentence: 9 audio examples across 3 meanings.

Context: “movement”

(adverb) when you move in the direction opposite to where you usually go. Imagine walking away from your friends instead of toward them; that's going backwards.

Example

She walked backwards to avoid stepping on the flower.

Example

He didn't walk backwards; he moved straight ahead to the door.

Example

Can you walk backwards without looking behind you?

Context: “time”

(adverb) when you think about or talk about something that happened in the past instead of the present or future. It's like rewinding a video to see what happened before.

Example

When she told the story, she started from the end and went backwards.

Example

He didn't want to go backwards in time; he preferred to focus on the future.

Example

Why do you think we sometimes look backwards instead of forward?

Context: “attitude”

(adjective) when someone or something is not modern or is stuck in old ways. It's like having old-fashioned ideas that don't keep up with the times.

Example

His ideas were seen as backwards because they didn't match the current beliefs.

Example

Her approach was not backwards; it was very progressive and modern.

Example

Do you think some traditions can be considered backwards?

How to pronounce backwards

Pronunciation: [ˈbæk.wɚdz]

Listen and repeat as many times as you need.

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