step backwards
stɛp ˈbækwɚdz
stepped backwards, stepping backwards
Definition Synonyms Conjugation

Definition of step backwards - Reverso English Dictionary

Verbal expression

1.
physical movementmove one or more steps in the direction behind you
  • She had to step backwards to avoid the puddle.
move back retreat
2.
progress or developmentreturn to a previous or less advanced state
  • The company stepped backwards after losing its main client.
backslide regress

Noun

1.
regressiondecline in progress or development
  • The new policy was seen as a step backwards.
regression retrogression
2.
strategystrategic retreat in a plan
  • Taking a step backwards helped them reassess their strategy.
pullback retreat
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Expressions with step backwards

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
take a step backwardsv.
move one step back
He had to take a step backwards to avoid the puddle.

Expressions with step

step onv.
press down with the foot
He had to step on the pedal harder to stop the car..
baby stepn.
very small progress or movement towards a goal
He took baby steps in learning to read.
in stepadv.
moving in perfect rhythm with others
The soldiers marched in step with the music.
step betweenv.
move into a space between two things
He stepped between the parked cars to cross the street.
step on someone's feetv.
press your foot down on another person's foot
Be careful not to step on your partner's feet while dancing.
watch one's stepv.
move carefully to avoid obstacles
Watch your step on the icy sidewalk.

Expressions with backwards

fall over backwardsv.
lose balance and fall
He tripped on the curb and fell over backwards.
take a step backwardsv.
move one step back
He had to take a step backwards to avoid the puddle.
bend over backwardsv.
make a great effort to achieve something
She bent over backwards to finish the project on time.
lean over backwardsv.
make extra effort to help or satisfy someone
She will lean over backwards to make her guests feel comfortable.
be bent over backwardsv.
make a great effort to help or please someone
She bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable.
know something backwardsv.
understand every detail of something very well
She knows the rules backwards.
backwards and forwardsadv.
in both directions repeatedly
The pendulum swings backwards and forwards.
backwards rolln.
movement in reverse direction by rolling
The child did a backwards roll down the hill.
fall backwardsv.
move or drop to the ground behind from a standing position
He tripped and fell backwards onto the grass.
go backwardsv.
move in the opposite direction to the usual one
The car started to go backwards down the hill..

Terms related to step backwards

💡 Terms in the same lexical field: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, hypernyms…
steplikestepperstepwisebacktrackfallbackrecederecoilregressretrogressreversewithdrawdecline

Terms with step backwards included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
backpedalv.
boxing
step backwards in boxing

Examples of step backwards in a sentence

  • The child stepped backwards when the dog barked.
  • Cutting research funding is a step backwards for innovation.
  • Reintroducing old policies would be stepping backwards.
  • Cutting funding is a step backwards for education.
  • Ignoring science would be a step backwards.
  • Sometimes a step backwards leads to greater progress.

View all translations of step backwards

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:reculer, recul, ...
  2. German:einen Schritt zurückgehen, Rückschritt, ...
  3. Italian:indietreggiare, passo indietro, ...
  4. Spanish:retroceder, retroceso, ...
  5. Portuguese:recuar, retrocesso, ...
  6. Chinese:后退, 倒退的一步, ...
  7. Japanese:後ずさりする, 後退, ...
  8. Arabic:تَرَاجَعَ خُطْوَة, تراجع, ...
  9. Hebrew:לִצְעוֹד אָחוֹרָה, צַעַד לְאָחוֹר, ...
  10. Russian:отступить, шаг назад, ...
  11. Ukrainian:відступити назад, крок назад, ...
  12. Hindi:पीछे हटना, पिछड़ाव, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “s”:
step back in time step backward step between step by step

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