quarterback

1 of 2

noun

quar·​ter·​back ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌbak 

1

: an offensive back in football who usually lines up behind the center, calls the signals, and directs the offensive play of the team

2

: one who directs and leads

quarterback

2 of 2

verb

quarterbacked; quarterbacking; quarterbacks

transitive verb

1

: to direct the offensive play of

quarterback a football team

2

: to give executive direction to : boss

quarterbacked the original buying syndicate

—Time

intransitive verb

: to play quarterback

Synonyms

Verb

• boss
• captain
• handle
• head
• overlook
• oversee
• superintend
• supervise

Examples of quarterback in a Sentence

Verb

He quarterbacked his high school team.

She quarterbacked the company's latest ad campaign.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Star Power On Display The top four candidates for the NFL MVP award will be on stage in the playoffs — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Lions quarterback Jared Goff. —Jack Magruder, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Chicago also boasts a promising young quarterback on a rookie contract, along with a roster that is dramatically more talented than New England’s. —Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Verb

Of the 12 teams to make the Playoff, half are quarterbacked by transfers. —Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

As with that opener, this wild-card game pits quarterbacks Jordan Love of the Packers and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing quarterback

• Monday-morning quarterback
• quarterback sneak

Kids Definition

quarterback

noun

quar·​ter·​back

ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər-ˌbak

: an offensive football back who calls the signals and directs the offensive play of the team

quarterback verb