to step backward
1a step backward — a backward step or a step backward an action that does not bring progress, but makes the situation as bad as it was in the past By cutting expenditure on health care, I feel we are taking a backward step to the bad old days …
2step — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 in walking, running, etc. ADJECTIVE ▪ large, small ▪ heavy, light ▪ quick, slow ▪ hesitant …
3backward — back|ward1 [ bækwərd ] adjective * 1. ) only before noun moving or looking in the direction that is behind you: a backward glance 2. ) not developing quickly, normally, and successfully: a remote and backward region a ) OLD FASHIONED an offensive …
4step — I n. placing the foot 1) to make, take a step (to take a step backward) 2) to retrace one s steps 3) a giant (usu. fig.); mincing step 4) (usu. fig.) step by step sequence of movements (dancing) 5) to execute, perform a step stride in marching… …
5step — 1 /step/ noun 1 MOVEMENT (C) the movement you make when you put one foot in front of the other when walking: With every step my bags seemed heavier. | take a step: Take two steps forward and one step back. | retrace your steps (=go back the way… …
6backward — backward, backwards 1. For the adverb, both forms are in use, although backward is somewhat more common in AmE and backwards in BrE: • Talk ran backward from the events of the morning A. Munro, CanE 1987 • I walked backward to look at her in the… …
7step — [n1] pace of feet in walking footfall, footprint, footstep, gait, impression, mark, print, spoor, stepping, stride, trace, track, trail, tread, vestige, walk; concept 149 step [n2] action, move act, advance, advancement, deed, degree, expedient,… …
8step — [step] n. [ME steppe < OE stepe, akin to Ger stapf < IE base * steb(h) , post (> STAMP): basic sense “to stamp feet”] 1. the act of moving and placing the foot forward, backward, sideways, up, or down, as in walking, dancing, or climbing …
9backward step — index decline Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …
10backward — [[t]bæ̱kwə(r)d[/t]] (In American English, backward is usually used as an adverb instead of backwards. Backward is also sometimes used in this way in formal British English. See backwards for these uses.) 1) ADJ: ADJ n A backward movement or look… …