1(of a movement) in the direction of one’s back:Penny glanced backwardshe took a step backwards
2(of an object’s motion) back towards the starting point:the tape rolled backwards
3in reverse of the usual direction or order:count backwards from twenty to ten
towards the past:the songs look backwards to long-ago battles
towards or into a worse state:a step backwards for the economy
Phrases
backwards and forwards
in both directions alternately; to and fro:he paced backwards and forwards nervously
bend (or fall or lean) over backwards
informal make every effort to achieve something, especially to be fair or helpful:we have bent over backwards to ensure a fair trial for the defendants
know something backwards
be entirely familiar with something:Luke knew the play backwards
backwards in other Oxford dictionaries
Definition of backwards in the US English dictionary
