1
2
as in backward
directed, turned, or done toward the back
the tearful girl gave a rearward glance to her younger brother as she was being led down the street for her first day at school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also rearwards
as in backwards
toward the rear
turned rearward for a moment, just for one final look at the haunting scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rearward
Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2024
Most were initially posted to checkpoints and other rearward duties in their native regions, but that changed as the Army hemorrhaged personnel.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
The toe-control link is critical to achieving this, especially since the bushings allow the wheels to move rearward slightly to help absorb small, sharp bumps.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes, 16 May 2022
The Urus's eight-speed gearbox has been recalibrated for Performante duty, and the all-wheel-drive system gets a different center differential that sends more torque rearward.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rearward
Adjective
The dash is bare-bones metal with a few modern touches, such as the nine-inch touchscreen for the Rockford Fosgate audio, and a somewhat gimmicky 12-inch overhead split screen that gives three rearward views from external cameras.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2024
Most were initially posted to checkpoints and other rearward duties in their native regions, but that changed as the Army hemorrhaged personnel.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Adverb
That transfer case looks and functions very similarly to that of a Mercedes-Benz Unimog’s portal axles, with an onboard air compressor to engage it and gears that send power up and over the middle axle to a propshaft that continues rearward.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
The toe-control link is critical to achieving this, especially since the bushings allow the wheels to move rearward slightly to help absorb small, sharp bumps.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
Noun
But the proportions have the classic long-hood, cab-rearward look.
—Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes, 16 May 2022
The Urus's eight-speed gearbox has been recalibrated for Performante duty, and the all-wheel-drive system gets a different center differential that sends more torque rearward.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rearward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rearward
Adjective
-
Here, too, Russian troops have made steady gains in recent weeks, particularly the north of the town of Lyman, a railway hub and rear support base for Ukraine’s troops.—
Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
-
This eats into rear occupancy comfort, but dog comfort is more important.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But that jobs data was backward looking, and the fear hitting financial markets is about what's to come.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Hummingbirds are a fan favorite of avid bird watchers due to their spunky personalities and impressive flying tricks (flying upside-down and backward!).—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Athletic reported in July that there was a feeling among coaching staff that there could be less reliability at the back this campaign, with the expectation of conceding 10 to 15 more goals but the hope, with Mbappe, of increasing the goalscoring significantly.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The etchings reflect the 13-month lunar calendars the tribes used, with a different design on each of the 13 scales on a snapping turtle’s back.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The same thing happened in reverse when judges often blocked Biden administration plans.—
Christina Gatti,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2025
-
And for scientists, the possibility of whether this process of cultural osmosis could work in reverse to influence cosmological discoveries.—
The Physics arXiv Blog,
Discover Magazine,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rearward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rearward. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share