Frombackward +-s. See also-s(“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).
backwards (comparativemorebackwards,superlativemostbackwards)
- Synonym ofbackward; see usage notes there.
FromMiddle Englishbakwardis,bakwardis, a variant ofMiddle Englishbakwarde,bakward(“backward”). Equivalent tobackward +-s. CompareSaterland Frisianbäkove(“backwards”).
backwards (comparativemorebackwards,superlativemostbackwards)
- Synonym ofbackward; see usage notes there.
1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, inRailway Magazine, page150:The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a trainbackwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying "Hurry up, ma'am; train's going!"—and pushes her in again!
2025 November 12, 'Mystery Shopper', “Is Devon the cream of the crop?”, inRAIL, number1048, page47:My train back is a Class 800 bi-mode. These are not too bad, except for their awful seats - compared with the seats on the HST, they are a stepbackwards.
Other terms using the suffix-wards
An inflection.
backwards
- third-personsingularsimplepresentindicative ofbackward
