Word Type

Adverb

Verb

Adverb

Adjective

The word "backwards" can be used as adverb, verb, adverb and adjective.

Word Relationships

Opposites (Antonyms)

forwards

Derived Terms

ass-backwards ass-backwards backwards-compatible backwardsness look as if one has been dragged through a hedge backwards

Etymologically Related To

s

Context

derogatory

Related Terms

downwards eastwards forwards homewards inwards landwards leewards northwards outwards seawards shorewards sidewards skywards southwards sternwards towards upwards westwards windwards

Related Terms

back backward behind clumsy current downwards eastwards forwards homewards inefficient inept inwards landwards leewards northwards opposite orient outwards reversed seawards shorewards sidewards skywards southwards sternwards towards upwards westwards windwards

Synonym Network

awkward back to front contrariwise crude hindwards mirror image

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