Homonym: backward (Retrograde)
The term "backward" refers to a direction opposite to the forward movement. It can describe physical movement, such as walking or running in reverse. In a broader sense, "backward" can also indicate a lack of progress or development in various contexts, such as technology or social issues.
In mathematics, "backward" can refer to a method of solving problems by working from the desired outcome to the starting point. This approach is often used in algorithms and programming, where one may trace steps backward to identify errors or optimize solutions.