# backward

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ · frequency rank #10,986

## Definitions
1. Indicating position or direction.
2. Indicating position or direction.
3. Indicating position or direction.
4. Indicating position or direction.
5. Indicating position or direction.
6. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
7. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
8. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
9. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
10. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
11. Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.
12. Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
13. On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
14. Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
15. Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
16. Already past or gone; bygone.

## Etymology
From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”).

## Easily confused with
- **backyard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backward-vs-backyard)
- **backwards** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backward-vs-backwards)
- **backhand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backhand-vs-backward)
- **backboard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backboard-vs-backward)

## Common misspellings (13)
`abckward`, `bacckward`, `backawrd`, `backkward`, `backwadr`, `backwardd`, `backwarrd`, `backwrad`, `backwward`, `bacwkard`, `bakcward`, `bbackward`, `bcakward`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/backward