rearward

[ reer-werd for 1–4; reer-wawrd for 5 ]
/ ˈrɪər wərd for 1–4; ˈrɪər wɔrd for 5 /

adverb

Also rear·wards. toward or in the rear.

adjective

located in, near, or toward the rear.
directed toward the rear.

noun

a position at the rear: in the rearward of fashion.
the rear division of a military unit.

Origin of rearward

1300–50; Middle English rerewarde < Anglo-French. See rear1, -ward

OTHER WORDS FROM rearward

rear·ward·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for rearward

British Dictionary definitions for rearward

rearward
/ (ˈrɪəwəd) /

adjective, adverb

towards or in the rear Also (for adverb only): rearwards

noun

a position in the rear, esp the rear division of a military formation

Word Origin for rearward

C14 (as a noun: the part of an army positioned behind the main body of troops): from Anglo-French rerewarde, variant of reregarde; see rearguard