back 1 of 4

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

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2
3

back

2 of 4

noun

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

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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 4

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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back

4 of 4

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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
Noun
  • At the rear of the home the floor plan opens dramatically to include a large eat-in kitchen and an impressive family room.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2025
  • At the rear of the speakers, there is a solid metal plate where the controls and inputs are located.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
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
  • The investigation was aided by a confidential informant — one of Gonzalez’s former friends who got busted, according to court records.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 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
  • And the obsequious fealty shown to him by the Republican Party reinforces why a president running amok should never have this much power again.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 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
Noun
  • Out of all of her spring blooms, Gaines had a soft spot for the delicate ranunculus.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Most people are looking for a young and friendly family dog, but there are a few of us out there who have a soft spot for the outcasts with a bit of a temper.
    Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 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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