Meaning of backward In English

• 0 not advanced:

  • When he was a child, his teachers thought he was backward (= unable to learn as much as most children).

  • People still think of it as a backward country/region/area (= one without industry or modern machines).

• 1 towards the direction that is the opposite to the one in which you are facing:

  • She left without a backward glance.

  • He did a fantastic backward somersault.

• 2 not doing something immediately or quickly, because you are nervous or not certain about it:

  • I usually find that my partner is not backward in suggesting different options.

• 3 →  backwards mainly UK

• 4 toward the direction that is opposite to the one in which you are facing or opposite to the usual direction:

  • He took a step backward.

  • He began counting backward: "Ten, nine, eight . . ."

  • She was skating around the rink, backward and forward.

• 5 directed toward the back or in the direction that is opposite to the one in which you are facing:

  • He did a terrific backward somersault.

• 6 not developed, or not modern or advanced:

  • The state needs to reform its backward election laws.