backward

hacia atrás

al revés

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USAGE NOTE

This word can also be spelled "backwards."

backward(

bahk

wuhrd

)

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).

adverb

1. (toward the rear)

a. hacia atrás

The soccer player moved backward to avoid the goalie and then scored a goal.El futbolista se movió hacia atrás para evitar al portero y luego anotó un gol.

2. (back first)

a. hacia atrás

Cecilia was walking backward while talking to me and tripped over a step.Cecilia caminaba hacia atrás mientras hablaba conmigo y se tropezó con un escalón.

3. (in reverse order)

a. al revés

Nicholas can recite the alphabet backward.Nicholas sabe recitar el abecedario al revés.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

4. (toward a worse state)

a. atrás

The so-called fiscal reform turned out to be a step backward.La supuesta reforma fiscal resultó ser un paso atrás.

5. (toward the rear)

a. hacia atrás

She got on the bus without even a backward glance.Se subió al camión sin ni siquiera una mirada hacia atrás.

b. atrás

Berta took a step back to keep from falling off the ledge.Berta dio un paso atrás para no caerse del saliente.

A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g. cat, groovy).

(old-fashioned)

An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g. ghetto).

(pejorative)

(with learning difficulties)

a. retrasado

Even a backward child has more sense than that idiotic politician.Hasta un niño retrasado tiene más sentido común que ese político idiota.

7. (underdeveloped)

a. atrasado

Some backward countries still have people stoned to death for adultery.Algunos países atrasados todavía lapidan a las personas por adulterio.

8. (reluctant)

a. reservado

Luke is too backward to ask Daniela to go out with him.Luke es demasiado reservado como para pedirle a Daniela que salga con él.

backward

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).

adverb

1. (general)

a. hacia atrás

to walk backward and forwardcaminar de un lado para otro

2. (fig)

a step backwardun paso atrás

3. (fig)

to bend or lean over backward to helphacer todo lo posible por ayudar

4. (fig)

to know something backwardconocer algo de pe a pa

backward [ˈbækwəd]

adjective

1 [+motion, glance] hacia atrás

backward and forward movement movimiento (m) de vaivén

2 [+pupil, country] atrasado

3 (reluctant) tímido

he wasn't backward in claiming the money no se mostró tímido a la hora de reclamar el dinero

he was not backward in taking the money

he's not backward in coming forward no peca de tímido

adverb

1 [+look] atrás; hacia atrás; [+move] hacia atrás

to walk/fall backward andar/caer hacia atrás; to go backward and forward ir y venir; ir de acá para allá; this is a step backward esto supone un paso atrás

Greater government intervention in busineses would represent a step backwards ...unshakable traditions that look backward rather than ahead

bend over

2 (in reverse) al revés

He works backward, building a house from the top down

to read sth backward leer algo para atrás

to know sth backward saberse algo al dedillo or de pe a pa

backwards [ˈbækwədz]

adverb

especially (Britain)

backward

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

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