Retrograde — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb verb /ˈre-trə-ˌgrād/ ret·ro·grade

Meaning & Definition of Retrograde

Retrograde (adjective)

  1. having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars
  2. having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet
  3. moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction

Retrograde (adverb)

  1. backward, reversely

Retrograde (verb)

  1. to turn back, reverse
  2. to go back, retreat
  3. to go back over or recapitulate something

Retrograde (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. directed, turned, or done toward the back

    "retrograde pedaling will engage the brakes on that bike"

    similar: backward, rearward
    related: reverse, reversed, aft, after, hind, posterior, rear, astern, sternforemost
    near: forward

  2. pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time

    "the loft's retrograde decor seeks to capture the look and feel of the swinging '60s"

    similar: antique, old-fashioned, old-school, old-time, old-timey, old-world, oldfangled, quaint, retro, vintage
    related: antiquated, moldy, obsolete, rinky-dink, historic, historical, olden, traditional, old hat, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, superannuated, dated, fusty, moth-eaten, musty, stodgy, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, atavistic, fossilized, hoary, venerable, bygone, erstwhile, former, late, past, forgotten, remote, ageless, dateless, timeless, anachronistic, anachronous
    opposite: contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernist, modernistic, new age, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, ultramodern, up-to-date
    near: fresh, new, chic, designer, fashionable, smart, stylish, modernized, refurbished, remodeled, renewed, updated, last, latest, futuristic, high-tech, latter-day, nontraditional, recent

Retrograde (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Retrograde (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in counterclockwise, anticlockwise

    similar: anticlockwise (chiefly British), counterclockwise, left-handed, left-handedly, reversely, widdershins, back, backward, rearward, astern, sternforemost
    opposite: ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Retrograde

The most common words with a similar meaning to Retrograde:

Chiefly British: anticlockwise
backward, rearward, antique, old-fashioned, old-school, old-time, old-timey, old-world, oldfangled, quaint, retro, vintage, atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, rot, sink, worsen, go to pot, go to seed, counterclockwise, left-handed, left-handedly, reversely, widdershins, back, astern, sternforemost

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Retrograde

Words with the opposite meaning of Retrograde:

contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernist, modernistic, new age, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, ultramodern, up-to-date, ameliorate, improve, meliorate, ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward

Related Words for Retrograde

reverse, reversed, aft, after, hind, posterior, rear, antiquated, moldy, obsolete, rinky-dink, historic, historical, olden, traditional, old hat, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, superannuated, dated, fusty, moth-eaten, musty, stodgy, aged, age-old, ancient

Near Antonyms of Retrograde

fresh, new, chic, designer, fashionable, smart, stylish, modernized, refurbished, remodeled, renewed, updated, last, latest, futuristic, high-tech, latter-day, nontraditional, recent, better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march

Word Forms of Retrograde

Inflections: retrograded, retrograding, retrogrades

Derived words: retrogradely (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Retrograde

Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retrogradi

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Retrograde

What does "Retrograde" mean?

"Retrograde" means having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars. As an an adjective, an adverb and a verb, it is defined as: having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and especially east to west among the stars. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Retrograde"?

Other words for "Retrograde" include backward, rearward, antique, old-fashioned, old-school, old-time, old-timey and old-world. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Retrograde" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Retrograde"?

There are 117 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Retrograde". Common alternatives include backward, rearward, antique, old-fashioned, old-school, old-time, old-timey, old-world, oldfangled and quaint.

What is the opposite of "Retrograde"?

Antonyms of "Retrograde" include contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernist, modernistic and new age. Near antonyms include fresh, new, chic and designer.

How do you use "Retrograde" in a sentence?

Examples of "Retrograde" in a sentence: "retrograde pedaling will engage the brakes on that bike"; "the loft's retrograde decor seeks to capture the look and feel of the swinging '60s"; "the Dark Ages, the period following the fall of the Roman Empire when Western civilization seriously retrograded".

Is "Retrograde" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Retrograde" can be used as an adjective, an adverb and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Retrograde"?

"Retrograde" is pronounced /ˈre-trə-ˌgrād/ and divided into syllables as ret·ro·grade.

What is the origin of the word "Retrograde"?

"Retrograde" comes from Middle English, from Latin retrogradus, from retrogradi. First known use: 14th century.