back 1 of 5

1
as in ago
earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

back

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
as in rear
a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

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back

3 of 5

verb

1
2
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 5

adjective

as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

backer

5 of 5

noun (2)

1
2
as in sponsor
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back
Adverb
The majority of his criticism was lavished at Vice President Vance, who earlier this month pushed back on arguments that Abrego Garcia wasn’t given due process, which is required under the Fifth Amendment. Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025 Going further back, Powell has only scored 20 points in three of the Clippers' last 12 contests. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
She was stabbed in the face, neck, on her arm and on her back, WNYW reported. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025 Also injured in the brawl were a 21-year-old man stabbed in the back and hand, and a 20-year-old man lashed in the neck, cops and sources told the Daily News. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Those increases, backed by Bass over the past two years, are expected to add about $250 million to next year’s budget, which takes effect July 1. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025 Jets fans back Luke Schenn One of the big storylines in the series is the fact that brothers Luke and Brayden Schenn are going up against each other. Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Her front legs rested on top of the fence, with her back legs on the grill, holding her steady. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Since signing, he has been plagued by back problems, limiting him to only 170 games and robbing him of his power and ability to play any defensive position. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • From bedtime to bilingual prompts, these Latina moms are bending AI to fit around their world, not the other way around.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Stephen Curry Curry had the top-selling jersey last year, but came in at number two this time around.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Their visit comes after four House Democrats traveled to El Salvador earlier this week to advocate for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was wrongly deported to the Central American country.
    Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Kerry Morrison, founder of a nonprofit that advocates for change in the mental health system and has sat for years on the oversight committee for the city’s Proposition HHH homeless housing fund, finds all the new groups hard to follow.
    Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In the wake of that visit, Van Hollen pressed for improved access for humanitarian organizations trying to aid Palestinians.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
  • To help aid this process, Chelsea Women are now operating independently from the men’s team and appointed Aki Mandhar, formerly of The Athletic, as their first-ever dedicated CEO.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • That includes carving out meeting-free hours, encouraging asynchronous communication when possible, and reinforcing that deep work matters.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The battery chemistry is the same as lesser Blazers, but the SS makes good use of new silicon carbide inverters in the rear drive unit that minimize energy losses and segmented magnets in the motors that reduce heat buildup.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025
  • This immersive audio system brings Dolby Atmos and wireless rear channels into your living room at a fantastic discount.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • While the acquisition gives Global Payments a larger footprint in payment processing, analysts at Mizuho described it as a strategic step backward.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, Zuckerberg has bent over backward to forge an alliance with Trump through private dinners, public appearances and changes to Meta’s platform.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Carson, who served as secretary during President Trump’s first term, endorsed Trump’s most recent bid for the presidency in late 2023.
    Tara Suter, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
  • After penning an op-ed calling for President Biden to step aside during the 2024 presidential election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in his place, the 2x Oscar winner recently opened up about the ongoing backlash to his statement.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Aleksander Barkov assists on both Reinhart goals to increase his total to 51 on the season.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Images circulating on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed dozens of people leaving the premises, with some assisting patients on hospital beds.
    Nidal al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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