backwards
/ˈbækwədz/adverb
उच्चारण बैक्वड्ज़
पीछे की ओर, उलटा
Basic word
- 1
in the direction behind you
पीछे की ओर, उलटा
- She took two steps backwards.
- Do not walk backwards near the stairs.
- The driver reversed backwards into the parking space.
+ 2 more examples
- He stepped backwards in surprise.
- Don't look backwards; keep running.
Opposite forwards
- 2
in the opposite order to the usual one; with the back part at the front
उलटे क्रम में, उलटा
- Radhika can say the alphabet backwards.
- He put his shirt on backwards.
- The baby wore her cap backwards.
+ 2 more examples
- The word 'madam' reads the same backwards.
- Try counting backwards from fifty.
- 3
towards the past, or towards a worse state
अतीत की ओर; पिछड़ते हुए
- Looking backwards, I think we made the right choice.
- This decision takes the country backwards.
- Some people think that the new rule is a step backwards.
+ 2 more examples
- Going back to the old system would be a move backwards.
- The economy has slipped backwards this year.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
verb + backwards (direction)
After verbs like move, step, lean, walk or fall, backwards shows movement towards the back.
Move, step, lean, walk या fall जैसी क्रियाओं के बाद backwards पीछे की ओर गति दिखाता है।
- She stepped backwards to let the bus pass.
- The car rolled backwards down the slope.
backwards and forwards
This pair means in both directions, again and again, and the order is always backwards first in the fixed phrase 'backwards and forwards'.
यह जोड़ी बार-बार दोनों दिशाओं में चलने का अर्थ देती है, और स्थिर phrase में 'backwards' पहले आता है।
- The tutor walked backwards and forwards in the room.
- The pendulum swung backwards and forwards.
backwards in the opposite order
It also means in reverse order, as when you say a word from the last letter to the first.
इसका अर्थ उलटे क्रम में भी है, जैसे शब्द को अंतिम अक्षर से पहले अक्षर तक पढ़ना।
- Radhika can say the alphabet backwards.
backwards vs backward
In British English backwards is the usual adverb; backward is the adjective (a backward step), though American English uses backward for both.
ब्रिटिश अंग्रेज़ी में backwards सामान्य adverb है; backward adjective है (a backward step), जबकि अमेरिकी अंग्रेज़ी दोनों के लिए backward प्रयोग करती है।
- He took a backward glance and then walked backwards.
+Collocations 4
verb + backwards
stepleanfallwalkrollcount
- He fell backwards off the chair and laughed.
backwards and forwards
swingtravelpacerockrun
- The ferry travels backwards and forwards between the two banks.
bend / lean over backwards
bend over backwardslean over backwardsgo over backwards
- The teachers bent over backwards to help the weak students.
count / read / say backwards
count backwardsread backwardsspell backwardssay backwards
- The doctor asked the patient to count backwards from fifty.
“More examples 5
- Radhika took two steps backwards and looked at the board.
राधिका दो कदम पीछे हटकर बोर्ड को देखने लगी।
- The rocket count started with ten and went backwards to zero.
रॉकेट की गिनती दस से शुरू होकर उलटी दिशा में शून्य तक गई।
- He ran the film backwards to see the scene again.
उसने वह दृश्य दोबारा देखने के लिए फ़िल्म को उलटा चलाया।
- The shopkeeper bent over backwards to satisfy his customers.
दुकानदार ने अपने ग्राहकों को संतुष्ट करने के लिए जी-जान लगा दी।
- Walking backwards is a good exercise for the legs.
पीछे की ओर चलना पैरों के लिए अच्छा व्यायाम है।
!Common mistakes 1
✗ The class showed a backwards progress this year.
✓ The class showed backward progress this year.
Before a noun use the adjective backward, not backwards.
Noun के पहले adjective 'backward' आता है, 'backwards' नहीं।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
These words describe moving or going the opposite way, but their parts of speech differ.
ये शब्द उलटी दिशा में जाने को बताते हैं, पर इनका part of speech अलग है।
An adverb, mostly British, for movement towards the back or in reverse order.
Adverb, मुख्यतः ब्रिटिश, पीछे की ओर गति या उलटे क्रम के लिए।
- She read the word backwards.
An adjective for something that goes towards the back, or less developed.
Adjective, जो पीछे की ओर जाता है, या कम विकसित है।
- It was a backward step.
The opposite direction or order; also to go back or change completely.
उलटी दिशा या क्रम; पीछे जाना या पूरी तरह बदलना भी।
- She reversed the car into the lane.
¶Idioms 3
backwards and forwards
first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, again and again
आगे-पीछे, इधर से उधर बार-बार
- The pendulum swung backwards and forwards.
- He paced backwards and forwards outside the exam hall.
bend/lean over backwards (to do sth)
to try very hard to help or please somebody
(किसी की मदद के लिए) जी-जान लगा देना
- Her teachers bent over backwards to help her.
- We leaned over backwards to make the guests comfortable.
know sth backwards
to know something extremely well
किसी चीज़ को पूरी तरह जानना, रग-रग से वाक़िफ़ होना
- Radhika knows the whole syllabus backwards.
- He knows this city backwards.
✓In the exam
Notes
British and American: British English usually has backwards for the adverb, while American English prefers backward.
British and American: British English में adverb के लिए प्रायः backwards आता है, जबकि American English में backward पसंद किया जाता है।