- backward
- I(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)adj. retarded, slow, underdeveloped; third-world; delayed, tardy; unwilling, loath, shy. See rear, unwillingness, lateness.II(Roget's IV) modif.1. [To the rear]Syn. rearward, astern, behind, aback, retro-, retrograde, regressive, reflex, retrogressive.Ant. forward*, progressive, onward.2. [Dull]Syn. stupid, slow-witted, dense; see dull 3 .3. [Retiring]Syn. bashful, reserved, shy; see humble 1 .4. [Reversed]Syn. turned around, counterclockwise, inverted; see reversed .5. [Behind in development]Syn. underdeveloped, slow, slow to develop, retarded, delayed, arrested, checked, behindhand, late, undeveloped, underprivileged, unenlightened.• bend over backward* ,Syn. try hard to please, conciliate, be fair; see try 1 .III(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) a.1. toward the rear rearward, in reverse, behind.2. in reverse upside-down, inside-out, wrong, *bassackwards.3. shy hesitant, reticent, bashful, reserved, timid, demure.4. retarded slow, behind, simple, inept, stupid, rustic, impeded, laggard, dull.ANT.: 3. confident, bold, forward. 4. advanced, quick, brilliantIV(Roget's Thesaurus II) I adjective 1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear: retrograde, retrogressive. See PRECEDE. 2. Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner: bashful, coy, demure, diffident, modest, retiring, self-effacing, shy1, timid. See RESTRAINT. 3. Exhibiting lack of education or knowledge: benighted, ignorant, primitive, unenlightened. See KNOWLEDGE. 4. Having only a limited ability to learn and understand: dull, simple, simple-minded, slow, slow-witted. Informal: soft. Offensive: feeble-minded, half-witted, retarded, weak-minded. See ABILITY. 5. Not progressing and developing as fast as others, as in economic and social aspects: lagging, underdeveloped, undeveloped. See PRECEDE. 6. Economically and socially below standard: depressed, deprived, disadvantaged, impoverished, underprivileged. See RICH. 7. Clinging to obsolete ideas: conservative, reactionary, unprogressive. See POLITICS. II adverb 1. Toward the back: about, around, back, backwards, rearward. See PRECEDE. 2. In or toward a former location or condition: about, around, back, backwards, rearward, round. See APPROACH.
English dictionary for students. 2013.