Cool MateBackward vs Backwards
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Backward
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Backwards
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Backward | Backwards | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbækwəd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbækwərd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbækwədz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbækwərdz/"]/ |
| Meaning | Going in the direction opposite to where you are facing. | In the direction that is opposite to the front. |
| Example | She strode past him **without a backward glance**. | He walked backwards to avoid stepping on the slippery ground. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adverb |
| Collocations | be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | move backwards, look backwards, step backwards |
| Antonyms | forward | forwards, ahead |
| Common mistakes | 'Backward' vs 'backwards' confusion, especially in British vs American English., Using 'backward' to describe a person negatively (this can be considered offensive)., Confusing the spelling with 'backwardness'. | Confused with 'backward' — check if regional variation applies., Incorrectly used in contexts where 'reverse' is more appropriate., Mispronounced as 'back-wards' instead of 'back-werdz'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'backward' to describe movement or position. It’s appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but less common in positive situations; often used in negative or cautionary remarks. | Use 'backwards' when describing movement in the reverse direction. It's more common in everyday conversation and not typically used in formal writing. Choose 'backward' in American English for similar meaning. |
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Frequently asked questions: Backward vs Backwards
What's the difference between Backward and Backwards?
Backward: Going in the direction opposite to where you are facing. Backwards: In the direction that is opposite to the front.
Are Backward and Backwards the same CEFR level?
Backward: B1, Backwards: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Backward and Backwards?
Backward: adjective, Backwards: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Backward: She strode past him **without a backward glance**. Backwards: He walked backwards to avoid stepping on the slippery ground.
Can I use Backward and Backwards interchangeably?
Not always. Backward and Backwards are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.