What is the Opposite(Antonym) of “onward”?

The Opposite(Antonym) of “onward”

The antonyms of onward are backward and behind. The antonyms backward and behind convey a direction opposite to that of onward. They imply movement in the opposite direction or a lack of progress.

Explore all Antonyms of “onward”

• backward
• behind

Definitions and Examples of backward, behind

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

backward

Toward the back or rear; in the opposite direction of forward.

Example

He took a step backward when he realized he was going the wrong way.

behind

At or to the back of someone or something; in a position further back than someone or something else.

Example

She fell behind in her studies after missing a week of school.

Key Differences: backward vs behind

• 1. Backward implies movement in the opposite direction, while behind implies a position further back than someone or something else.
• 2. Backward is an adverb, while behind is a preposition.

Effective Usage of backward, behind

• 1. Directional Instructions: Use onward to indicate movement in a forward direction and backward to indicate movement in the opposite direction.
• 2. Positional Description: Use behind to describe a position further back than someone or something else.
• 3. Progress Tracking: Use onward to describe progress or advancement and backward to describe a lack of progress.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of onward are backward and behind. Use backward to describe movement in the opposite direction and behind to describe a position further back than someone or something else. Use onward to describe progress or advancement and backward to describe a lack of progress.