1.backward用作形容词的基本意思是“向后的；朝后的；倒退的；反向的”，引申可表示“(季节)晚了；慢手慢脚的；落后的；迟钝的；迟疑的，羞怯的，畏缩的”。
2.backward作“向后的；朝后的”解时只用在名词前作定语；作“倒退的；反向的”“(季节)晚了；慢手慢脚的；落后的；迟钝的”解时可作表语或定语；作“迟疑的，羞怯的，畏缩的”解时通常只作表语。
3.backward后面接介词in表示“在某方面落后”。
4.backward作“落后的；迟钝的”“羞怯的，畏缩的”解时可用于比较等级，作其他各解时不用于比较等级。
5.在美式英语中backward可作副词。

backward in coming forward
〈非正〉(尤指在表达观点或愿望时)迟疑，畏缩hesitant; reluctant
She's not backward in coming forward.她勇敢地站出来。
I'm sure Matt will tell you what the thinks of the idea—he's not usually backward in coming forward. 我可以肯定马特会告诉你他认为这个主意如何——他通常不会羞怯不言。
Although they are rich, they are rather backward in coming forward with the poor.他们虽然有钱，但在帮助穷苦人方面却不大踊跃。

用作定语
▲～+n.
She gave me a backward glance. 她回头看了我一眼。
She stole a backward glance at him. 她偷偷回眸瞥了他一眼。
She left without a backward glance. 她走了，没回头看一眼。
She left with one last backward glance. 她向后望了最后一眼便离开了。
She strode past him without a backward glance. 她大步从他身边走过，都没有回头瞧他一眼。
He has a backward glance to want to look at that girl.他向后一瞥是想看看那个女孩。
She took a backward jump. 她向后跳了一步。
He made a backward step.他向后倒退了一步。
The train began to make a backward movement. 火车开始向后退。
He did a brilliant backward somersault. 他翻了个漂亮的后翻跟头。
It is evident that we are to have a backward season for grain. 我们今年谷物收割的季节显然会推迟。
By cutting expenditure on health care, I feel we are taking a backward step to the bad old days. 我觉得削减医疗保健开支是一种倒退，会使我们回复到以前的那种糟糕的状态。
She felt that going back to live in her home town would be a backward step. 她觉得回到家乡生活就是没出息。
She is a backward pupil.她是一个迟钝的学生。　
People still think of it as a backward country. 人们依旧认为这是一个落后的国家。
They live in a backward part of the country. 他们住在这个国家的落后地区。
Some backward parts of the country have no electricity. 这个国家的某些落后的地区没有用上电。
They brought new farming methods to the more backward areas. 他们将新型的耕作方法带到了较落后的地区。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
We are sorry to tell you that your son is backward. 我们很抱歉告诉你，你的儿子智力迟钝。
The equipment is relatively backward. 设备比较落后。
That part of the world is still very backward. 世界的那一地区仍然非常落后。
This part of the country is still backward；there are no railways or motor-roads,and no electricity.这个国家的这一地区仍很落后；没有铁路或公路，也没有电力。
Winter is backward this year. 今年冬天来得较迟。
The crops are backward this year.今年的收获期较晚。
He was backward as a child; he was nearby three before he could walk. 他孩提时代成长缓慢，快三岁才会走路。
Come on, Mary. Don't be backward.来吧，玛丽，别怕难为情。
▲S+be+～+prep.-phrase
He was backward at his lessons.他功课差。
The child is a little backward in her studies.这个孩子功课有点落后。
Because of his long illness, Tom is backward in his studies.因为汤姆长期生病，所以在学习中成绩落后。
People are not backward in their appreciation of art.人们的艺术鉴赏力并不差。
She is never backward in giving her help.她给予别人的帮助向来都是及时的。
Although he is clever, he is backward in giving his views.虽然他聪明， 但不勇于发表自己的看法。
He is very clever but rather backward in speaking out his mind. 他很聪明，却怯于表达自己的思想。
▲S+be+～+to-v
He has been backward to begin his canvass.他迟迟不开始游说。
They have been backward to begin work on the project. 他们迟迟不开工。

［派生词］ backwardness n. 落后状况
［同义词］  behind, dull, hesitant, late, shy, slow
［反义词］  advanced, forward