backwards
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.doing something in the opposite order, from the end to the beginning.
adv.in a reverse direction or order from the usual one.
Simple“Can you say the alphabet backwards starting from Z?”
In context“The witness was asked to recount the events backwards to see if his story remained consistent under pressure.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.facing or moving toward the back.
adj.directed or moving toward the rear.
Simple“He took a quick backwards step when he saw the snake.”
In context“The sudden backwards motion of the train caused several standing passengers to lose their balance and grab the handrails.”
SynonymsrearwardregressiveAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adv.to know a subject or a piece of information perfectly.
adv.to have thorough or complete knowledge of something; used in the idiom 'to know something backwards'.
Simple“She has been studying for weeks and knows the material backwards.”
In context“The lead engineer knew the schematics backwards, allowing him to identify the fault without even looking at the manual.”
Synonymsthoroughlyinside out
From backward + -s. See also -s (“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).
From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward + -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).
An inflection.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.