backward.

Indicating position or direction. Situated toward or at the rear of something.

The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.

Indicating position or direction. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.

a backward tilt of the head

Indicating position or direction. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.

The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.

Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.

Indicating position or direction. Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.

This is a backward step for the country.

Indicating position or direction. Reversed in order or sequence.

This backward writing is hard to read.

Expressing lack of development or advancement. Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.

The child is backward in his school work.

Expressing lack of development or advancement. Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.

They were a backward people without any writing.

Expressing lack of development or advancement. Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.

a backward child

Expressing lack of development or advancement. Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.

The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.

Expressing lack of development or advancement. Late or behindhand.

a backward season

Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.

She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!

Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.

On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.

Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.

Unwilling; averse; reluctant.

Already past or gone; bygone.

At, near or towards the rear of something.

The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.

In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.

He tilted his head backward.

The grandfather clock toppled backward and crashed to the ground.

In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.

In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.

Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.

This project seems to be going backward.

In a reversed orientation; back to front.

He had his cap on backward.

In a reversed order or sequence.

A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.

Toward or into the past.

As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.

In the past.

By way of reflection; reflexively.

The state behind or past.

To keep back, to delay, to retard.