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What is the adverb for backward?

What's the adverb for backward? Here's the word you're looking for.

aback
  1. (archaic) Towards the back or rear; backwards. [First attested prior to 1150.]
  2. (archaic) In the rear; a distance behind. [First attested prior to 1150.]
  3. By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
  4. (nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way. [First attested in the late 17th century.]
  5. Synonyms:
      6. back, backward, backwards, behind, rearward, abaft, astern, retrograde, to the rear, toward the rear, rearwards, towards the back, behind one, towards the rear, hindwards, toward the back, behind you, to the back, away, off, about, around, in reverse, round, over one's shoulder, in the opposite direction, to face the other way, in the reverse direction, sternwards, aft, sternward, the other way, to the past, suddenly, unexpectedly, unawares, unaware, unanticipatedly, surprisingly, off base, all of a sudden, with one's guard down, quickly, voila, out of the blue, just like that, unprepared, napping, abruptly, cold … more
  6. Examples:
      7. “The two started down the dusty road and John was quick to follow, but his father's words pulled him aback.”
      “The consul was present at the Supreme Court hearing, and I think she was taken aback and shocked by what she heard.”
backward
  1. (of motion) In the direction towards the back; backwards
  2. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
  3. By way of reflection; reflexively.
  4. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.
  5. Synonyms:
      6. back, backwards, rearward, aback, behind, rearwards, abaft, astern, to the back, to the rear, towards the back, towards the rear, toward the back, behind one, toward the rear, hindwards, retrograde, around, about, behind you, over one's shoulder, round, away, off, in reverse, tailward, posteriorward, hindward, sternwards, aft, sternward, rear, to face the other way, in the reverse direction, in the opposite direction, the other way, back to front, reversedly, contrariwise, in the opposite way from usual, from the highest to lowest, inside out … more
  6. Examples:
      7. “His head would suddenly move backward when he heard something in the courtroom that pointed to the truth about his involvement in their deaths.”
      “Their orders were that if they perceived their own countrymen surrounded by the army, they should turn backward, and charge the barbarians.”
      “His shirt is on backward, but he doesn't care.”
backwards
  1. Toward the back.
  2. In the opposite direction to usual.
  3. In a manner such that the back precedes the front.
  4. Synonyms:
      5. backward, back, rearward, aback, behind, hindwards, rearwards, abaft, astern, behind you, to the back, to the rear, towards the back, towards the rear, toward the back, toward the rear, behind one, retrograde, away, off, about, around, over one's shoulder, in reverse, sternwards, aft, sternward, rear, tailward, posteriorward, hindward, round, to face the other way, in the reverse direction, in the opposite direction, the other way, reversedly, contrariwise, back to front, inside out, upside down, from the highest to lowest, in reverse order … more
  5. Examples:
      6. “His head would suddenly move backwards when he heard something in the courtroom that pointed to the truth about his involvement in their deaths.”
      “Irene glanced backwards and saw that there was no man there.”
      “A three-digit number was presented, and participants were instructed to count backwards by threes for 10 seconds.”
abackward
  1. (archaic) Backward. [First attested from around (1150 to 1350).]
backwardly
  1. In a backward direction.
  2. Synonyms:
      3. rearwardly, retrogradely, reversely, aversely, regressively, negatively, retrogressively, downwardly, primitively, unsophisticatedly, outdatedly, antiquatedly, archaically, datedly, outmodedly, unprogressively, obsoletely, old-fashionedly, ignorantly, uneducatedly, benightedly, unknowledgeably, naively, simply, unawarely, hesitantly, reticently, timidly, diffidently, reluctantly, reservedly, loathly, unwillingly, waveringly, unconfidently, shily, modestly, retiringly, bashfully, demurely, coyly, introvertedly, sheepishly, humbly, recessively … more
  3. Examples:
      4. “For example, the weakly zygomorphic flower is scarlet, shows diurnal anthesis and has a backwardly curved labellum.”
      “A smooth band defines the posterior edge of the axial region, and two raised ridges define the backwardly directed edge of the fixed cheek.”
      “However, they're early Alphas, which were the most backwardly compatible.”
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Nearby Words
backstager
backstagers
backstages
backswimmer
backswimmers
backswimming
backwardation
backwardations
backwardly
backwardness
backwardnesses
backwards
8-letter Words Starting With
b
ba
bac
back
backw
backwa
backwar
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