backward vs leading

backward

adj
  • Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement. 

  • Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely. 

  • Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else. 

  • Late or behindhand. 

  • Situated toward or at the rear of something. 

  • Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated. 

  • On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease. 

  • Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning. 

  • Reluctant or unable to advance or act. 

  • Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing. 

  • Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress. 

  • Reversed in order or sequence. 

  • Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated. 

noun
  • The state behind or past. 

adv
  • In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement. 

  • In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing. 

  • At, near or towards the rear of something. 

  • Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state. 

  • In a reversed orientation; back to front. 

  • Toward or into the past; 

  • By way of reflection; reflexively. 

  • In a reversed order or sequence. 

leading

adj
  • Providing guidance or direction. 

  • Occurring in advance; preceding. 

  • Ranking first. 

noun
  • Vertical space added between lines; line spacing. 

  • An act by which one is led or guided. 

How often have the words backward and leading occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )