adverb / adjective

backwards

BAK-werdz/ˈbækwərdz/

In a direction opposite to normal forward movement.

The car moves backwards out of the garage, its rear emerging first.

A driver backs a car out of a narrow garage, with the rear emerging first, white reversing lights illuminated, and the driver looking over her shoulder toward the rear.

Etymology

backOld Englishback

+wardOld Englishin the direction of

+sEnglishadverbial genitive ending

Back plus the directional ending makes the rear a direction of movement, rather than merely a body part. The final -s is an old adverbial ending, not a plural marker.

In context

PublicResourceOrg5:57

lower the bucket to the ground and tilt it backwards just slightly this backwards tilting will raise the bucket teeth

AFQTP - FRONT END LOADER OPERATIONS

More examples

You have written the final letter backwards.
The instructions were arranged backwards, ending with the first step.
The old report described the region as economically backwards, a dismissive label.

Similar words

in reverse: Describes opposite movement or order without a judgment about development.
underdeveloped: Specifically concerns limited development rather than physical direction.