Rearward

//ˈɹɪəwɜːd// adj, adv, noun

adj, adv, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion, wind-up.

    "Do not liue Hero, do not ope thine eies: / For did I thinke thou vvouldſt not quickly die / Thought I thy ſpirites vvere ſtronger than thy ſhames / My ſelfe would on the rerevvard of reproches / Strike at thy life."

  2. 2
    direction toward the rear wordnet
  3. 3
    The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard.

    "Come in the rearward of a conquered woe"

Adjective
  1. 1
    Toward the back or rear of something.

    "The rearward seats of the bus were unpleasantly close to the toilet facilities."

Adjective
  1. 1
    located in or toward the back or rear wordnet
  2. 2
    directed or moving toward the rear wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    Toward the back or rear of something.

    "The ensuing struggle was bitter but brief, as for a third time the Alabamians stumbled rearward through the cedars. If Manigault were to take the guns, he would need help."

Adverb
  1. 1
    at or to or toward the back or rear wordnet

Example

More examples

"Do not liue Hero, do not ope thine eies: / For did I thinke thou vvouldſt not quickly die / Thought I thy ſpirites vvere ſtronger than thy ſhames / My ſelfe would on the rerevvard of reproches / Strike at thy life."

Etymology

From rear + -ward.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.