# backwards

/ˈbækwɝdz/ (US) · /bˈækwədz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/backwards
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. reverse order

adverb · CEFR B1

doing something in the opposite order, from the end to the beginning.

For teachers: in a reverse direction or order from the usual one.

- Can you say the alphabet backwards starting from Z?
- The witness was asked to recount the events backwards to see if his story remained consistent under pressure.

### 3. directed toward the back

adjective · CEFR B2

facing or moving toward the back.

For teachers: directed or moving toward the rear.

- He took a quick backwards step when he saw the snake.
- The sudden backwards motion of the train caused several standing passengers to lose their balance and grab the handrails.

### 4. knowing something very well

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to know a subject or a piece of information perfectly.

For teachers: to have thorough or complete knowledge of something; used in the idiom 'to know something backwards'.

- She has been studying for weeks and knows the material backwards.
- The lead engineer knew the schematics backwards, allowing him to identify the fault without even looking at the manual.

## Examples

- He took a few steps backwards to see the whole picture.
- The car rolled slowly backwards down the driveway because the driver forgot to pull the handbrake.
- The investigator had to work backwards from the evidence found at the scene to reconstruct the events leading up to the accident.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.