" backward "

1: toward the rear;

  * e.g., " ... looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance "

•  Synonyms : 

•  back,

•  rearward

•  Antonyms : 

•  ahead,

•  along,

•  forth,

•  forward,

•  forwards,

•  on,

•  onward

2: toward the opposite direction;

  * e.g., " ... the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening "

•  Synonyms : 

•  about,

•  around,

•  back,

•  round

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: directed, turned, or done toward the back;

  * e.g., " ... a backward turn on ice skates is hard to learn because you can't see where you're going "

•  Synonyms : 

•  rearward,

•  retrograde

•  Antonyms : 

•  extroverted,

•  immodest,

•  outgoing

2: not comfortable around people;

  * e.g., " ... curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts "

•  Synonyms : 

•  bashful,

•  coy,

•  demure,

•  diffident,

•  introverted,

•  modest,

•  recessive,

•  retiring,

•  self-effacing,

•  sheepish,

•  shy,

•  withdrawn

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: as in nostalgic, retrospective;

•  Synonyms : 

•  nostalgic,

•  retrospective,

•  introspective,

•  self-reflective,

•  philosophical,

•  analytic,

•  logical,

•  rational,

•  deliberate,

•  purposeful,

•  broody,

•  cogitative,

•  contemplative,

•  meditative,

•  melancholy,

•  musing,

•  pensive,

•  reflective,

•  ruminant,

•  ruminative,

•  thoughtful,

•  retroactive

•  Antonyms : 

•  unreflective,

•  farseeing,

•  farsighted,

•  forehanded,

•  foreseeing,

•  foresighted,

•  forethoughtful,

•  forward,

•  forward-looking,

•  prescient,

•  proactive,

•  provident,

•  visionary,

•  brainless,

•  mindless,

•  silly,

•  thoughtless,

•  unthinking

1: to cause to turn away from a straight line;

  * e.g., " ... she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer "

•  Synonyms : 

•  arch,

•  bow,

•  crook,

•  curve,

•  hook,

•  swerve

•  Antonyms : 

•  straighten,

•  unbend,

•  uncurl

2: to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention;

  * e.g., " ... bent herself to the task for the rest of the day "

•  Synonyms : 

•  address,

•  apply,

•  buckle,

•  devote,

•  give

•  Antonyms : 

•  straighten

3: to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal;

  * e.g., " ... bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film "

•  Synonyms : 

•  aim,

•  cast,

•  direct,

•  head,

•  hold,

•  level,

•  pinpoint,

•  set,

•  train

•  Antonyms : 

•  detach,

•  undo,

•  unfasten,

•  unhook

1: to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily;

  * e.g., " ... better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice "

•  Synonyms : 

•  slip,

•  stumble,

•  topple,

•  trip,

•  tumble

•  Antonyms : 

•  get up,

•  rise,

•  stand (up),

•  uprise

2: to yield to the control or power of enemy forces;

  * e.g., " ... the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment "

•  Synonyms : 

•  capitulate,

•  give up,

•  knuckle under,

•  submit,

•  succumb,

•  surrender

•  Antonyms : 

•  endure,

•  stand

3: to go to a lower level especially abruptly;

  * e.g., " ... word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock "

•  Synonyms : 

•  crash,

•  crater,

•  decline,

•  descend,

•  dip,

•  dive,

•  drop,

•  lower,

•  nose-dive,

•  plummet,

•  plunge,

•  sink,

•  skid,

•  tumble

•  Antonyms : 

•  arise,

•  ascend,

•  lift,

•  mount,

•  rise,

•  soar,

•  spike,

•  up

1: to take the first step in (a process or course of action);

  * e.g., " ... after some refreshments, she fell to working with renewed vigor "

•  Synonyms : 

•  begin,

•  commence,

•  embark (on or upon),

•  enter (into or upon),

•  get off,

•  kick off,

•  launch,

•  lead off,

•  open,

•  start,

•  strike (into)

•  Antonyms : 

•  conclude,

•  end,

•  finish,

•  terminate