Backward vs. Forward — What's the Difference?

Directed behind or to the rear

In the direction that one is facing or travelling; towards the front

Having made less progress than is normal or expected

Onward so as to make progress

Lacking the confidence to do (something)

Towards the future; ahead in time

(of a fielding position) behind an imaginary line passing through the stumps at the batsman's end at right angles to the wicket

Directed or facing towards the front or the direction that one is facing or travelling

Another word for backwards

Relating to the future

Directed or facing toward the back or rear.

Progressing towards a successful conclusion

Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to previous occurrence or normal use.

(of a person) bold or overfamiliar in manner

Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.

An attacking player in football, hockey, or other sports.

Behind others in progress or development

Agreements to trade specified assets, typically currency, at a specified price at a certain future date.

To or toward the back or rear.

Send (a letter or email) on to a further destination

With the back leading.

Help to advance (something); promote

In a reverse manner or order.

At, near, or belonging to the front or forepart; fore

To, toward, or into the past.

Located ahead or in advance

Toward a worse or less advanced condition.

Going, tending, or moving toward a position in front

Situated toward or at the rear of something.

(Sports) Advancing toward an opponent's goal.

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

Moving in a prescribed direction or order for normal use

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

Ardently inclined; eager.

(figuratively) Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.

Lacking restraint or modesty; presumptuous or bold

Reversed in order or sequence.

Being ahead of current economic, political, or technological trends; progressive

Reluctant or unable to advance or act.

Deviating radically from convention or tradition; extreme.

(figuratively) Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.

Exceptionally advanced; precocious.

(figuratively) Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.

Of, relating to, or done in preparation for the future

Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.

Toward or tending to the front; frontward

Late or behindhand.

Into consideration

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

In or toward the future

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

In the prescribed direction or sequence for normal use

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

In an advanced position or a configuration registering a future time

(obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.

At or to a different time; earlier or later

(obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.

A player in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey, who is part of the forward line of the offense.

At, near or towards the rear of something.

The position played by such a person.

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

To send on to a subsequent destination or address.

In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.

Situated toward or at the front of something.

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

(of troops, guns etc.) Situated toward or near the enemy lines.

In a reversed orientation; back to front.

Acting in or pertaining to the direction in which someone or something is facing.

In a reversed order or sequence.

Acting in or pertaining to the direction of travel or movement.

Toward or into the past;

(figuratively) Moving in the desired direction of progress.

(obsolete) In the past.

Having the usual order or sequence.

By way of reflection; reflexively. en

Expected or scheduled to take place in the future.

The state behind or past.

Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season; precocious.

With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.

Without customary restraint or modesty; bold, cheeky, pert, presumptuous or pushy.

Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.

(obsolete) Ready; prompt; ardently inclined; in a bad sense, eager or hasty.

On the back, or with the back downward.

At, near or towards the front of something.

Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.

(nautical) At, near, or towards the bow of a vessel (with the frame of reference within the vessel).

By way of reflection; reflexively.

In the direction in which someone or something is facing.

From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.

In the desired or usual direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively; onwards.

In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards.

So that front and back are in the usual orientation.

Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.

In the usual order or sequence.

Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.

Into the future.

Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child.

To an earlier point in time. See also bring forward.

Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.

(transitive) To advance, promote.

Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.

(transitive) To send (a letter, email etc.) on to a third party.

Already past or gone; bygone.

To assemble (a book) by sewing sections, attaching cover boards, and so on.

The state behind or past.

(rugby) One of the eight players (comprising two props, one hooker, two locks, two flankers and one number eight, collectively known as the pack) whose primary task is to gain and maintain possession of the ball (compare back).

To keep back; to hinder.

(soccer) A player on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.

Directed or facing toward the back or rear;

(ice hockey) An umbrella term for a centre or winger in ice hockey.

(used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature;

(basketball) The small forward or power forward position; two frontcourt positions that are taller than guards but shorter than centers.

Retarded in intellectual development

(nautical) The front part of a vessel.

At or to or toward the back or rear;

(Internet) An e-mail message that is forwarded to another recipient or recipients; an electronic chain letter.

In a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal;

(finance) A direct agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specific point in the future; distinguished from a futures contract in that the latter is standardized and traded on an exchange.

In or to or toward a past time;

Misspelling of foreword.

Agreement; covenant.

An agreement; a covenant; a promise.

Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; in advance; progressively; - opposed to backward.

Near, or at the fore part; in advance of something else; as, the forward gun in a ship, or the forward ship in a fleet.

Ready; prompt; strongly inclined; in an ill sense, overready; too hasty.

Ardent; eager; earnest; in an ill sense, less reserved or modest than is proper; bold; confident; as, the boy is too forward for his years.

Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season; as, the grass is forward, or forward for the season; we have a forward spring.

To help onward; to advance; to promote; to accelerate; to quicken; to hasten; as, to forward the growth of a plant; to forward one in improvement.

To send forward; to send toward the place of destination; to transmit; as, to forward a letter.

The person who plays the position of forward on a basketball team

A position on a basketball team

Send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit;

At or near or directed toward the front;

Moving toward a position ahead;

Used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty;

Of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle;

Moving forward

Situated at or toward the front;

Situated in the front;

At or to or toward the front;

Forward in time or order or degree;

Toward the future; forward in time;

In a forward direction;

Near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane;