back

BAK/bæk/

Adverbfurther back, farther back, furthest back, farthest back

Noun pluralbacks

Verbbacks, backing, backed

54 meanings of back

Practice

1
to where it wasadverb
To the place or state something was in before.
Please put the milk back in the fridge when you're done.
I left my phone at the hotel, so I have to go back.
UsageSay give it back (not ~~incorrect: give back it~~). With a noun, both work: give the money back, give back the money.
Note
2
neck to hipsnouncountable
The part of your body behind you, from your neck down to your bottom, including your spine.
The cat jumped onto my back while I was doing push-ups.
He lay on his back and looked at the stars.
UsageSay my back or her back. Lying on your back means face up.
Oppositefront
Note
3
into the pastadverb
In or toward an earlier time. After a length of time, it means ago, as in 'ten years back'.
My grandmother loves to talk about life back when she was a girl.
Looking at old photos always takes me back to my first summer in Ohio.
UsagePeople say back then, back in 1990, and back when I was little.
4
adjectivenot before a noun
Returned to where or how something was before.
The kids are back at school after a long summer break.
The power is back after the storm.
UsageSay I'll be back soon, or she's back from London.
Note
5
nouncountable
The side of a thing that is opposite its front.
Write your name on the back of the photo before you send it.
Press the rice down with the back of a spoon.
UsageWrite on the back of a photo. At the back of a room means the part far from the front.
Similarreverse
Oppositefront, face
6
at the rearadjective
Placed at the rear, away from the front.
The kids sat in the back seat of the car and sang songs.
We sat in the back row.
UsageUse it before a noun: the back door, the back seat.
Similarrear
Oppositefront
7
supportverbtransitive
To support someone or something, for example with money or words.
Most of the parents back the plan for a longer school day.
A big bank is backing her new coffee shop with a loan.
UsageOften said as backed by: a shop backed by a bank.
Similarsupport, endorse, sponsor, fund, finance
Oppositeoppose
Note
8
in returnadverb
In return, doing the same to someone as they did to you.
My friend called while I was busy, so I called her back later.
She waved at me, so I waved back.
UsageSay call her back, wave back, smile back at him.
9
adverb
Toward the back, or the opposite way from where you are facing or going.
She looked back over her shoulder to see if the bus was coming.
The truck slowly rolled back down the hill.
Similarbackward, backwards
Oppositeforward, ahead
10
nouncountable
The part of something that is farthest from the front, or that comes last.
We always find seats at the back of the bus.
Go to the back of the line.
UsageSay at the back of the room, in the back of the car.
Similarrear
Oppositefront
11
adverb
So as to become smaller or move out of the way.
The doctor gently pulled back the bandage to look at the cut.
This old tree is dying back.
Similaraway
12
sports positionnouncountable
In some team sports, a player who plays behind most of the team, or that position.
She plays as a back on the school rugby team.
Lapses at the back cost them the match.
UsageOne player is a back. A team defends at the back.
Oppositeforward
Note
13
adverb
Away from something or someone, or away from the front, so there is space between.
The police told the crowd to move back from the burning building.
Stand back from the fire.
UsageSay stand back from the fire, or just Get back!
Similaraway

Less common meanings

14
nouncountable
The area behind a building, or the storeroom at the rear of a store.
The shop owner went into the back to look for a bigger size.
Could you check in the back for more of these?
UsageSay in the back for the room behind a store.
Similarrear
Oppositefront
15
verbintransitive
To go backward, or to make something such as a car go backward.
She slowly backed the car out of the narrow garage.
The truck driver had to back down the hill because the road was blocked.
UsageSay back out of a garage or back away from danger.
Similarreverse
Oppositeadvance
16
seat restnouncountable
The part of a chair or seat that you lean against.
She hung her coat over the back of her chair at work.
The sofa has a high back.
Similarbackrest
17
verbtransitive
To play music or sing along with a main singer or player to support their part.
Two singers back the lead singer on every song.
My sister backs me on piano when I sing at school.
UsagePeople say backing vocals, a backing band, or backup singers.
Similaraccompany
Note
18
old issueadjective
From an earlier time and not current.
The library keeps back copies of the local newspaper for ten years.
Their back catalog is worth more than the new album.
UsageUsed in back issue (an old copy of a magazine) and back catalog.
Similarpast, old, earlier, previous
Oppositecurrent, latest
19
overdueadjective
Still owed for a time already past and not paid yet.
The city sent him a bill for two years of back taxes on the house.
The workers were promised their back pay.
UsageSay back pay or back rent for money still owed.
Similaroverdue, unpaid, outstanding
Note
20
adjective
Away from the main roads or busy places.
They took a back road to avoid the traffic.
We drove along quiet back streets to find the little bakery.
Similarside, minor
Oppositemain
21
adverb
To a later time than the one first planned.
They moved the game back an hour because of the rain.
My dentist visit got pushed back to next week.
UsageSay push back a meeting. Give the new time too, since some people think it means earlier.
Oppositeforward
22
reverse actionadjective
Moving or working in reverse.
His back pass to the goalkeeper was far too short.
A back current pulled the boat off course.
Similarbackward, reverse
Oppositeforward
23
adverb
Behind the leader or another player by a certain amount in a race, game, or list of team rankings.
Our team is two games back with five games left to play.
The runner in second place finished ten seconds back.
UsageSay two games back, or three strokes back of the leader.
Similarbehind
Oppositeahead
Note
24
verbtransitive
To bet money on a horse, team, or player, or on how a game or contest will end.
He backed the gray horse and won twenty dollars.
Most people in the office pool back the home team to win.
UsageBack the wrong horse means to choose something that fails.
Note
25
verbtransitive
To make a back for something, or to add one to it.
Use a thin board to back the cabinet.
She backed the quilt with soft flannel.
UsageSay back a quilt with soft cloth.
Note
26
curvy bottomnounslanguncountable
A large, shapely bottom.
She's got back, and she knows it.
Not every pair of jeans fits a woman with back.
Similarbooty
Note
27
verbtransitive
To be right behind something and next to it.
Tall pine trees back the campground on the north side.
The beach is backed by high white cliffs.
UsageOften said as backed by: a beach backed by cliffs.
Similarborder
Oppositefront
Note
28
adverb
In a way that stops or slows someone or something from going forward.
Don't let one bad test hold you back.
Being shy held him back at his new school.
UsageSay hold someone back: fear held her back.
Note
29
nounobsolete
Something kept ready to help in case it is needed.
This project / Should have a back or second, that might hold, / If this should blast in proof.
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, back means a backup plan kept ready in case the first one fails.
30
noun
A soft drink or water served alongside a strong drink.
31
adjective
Describing a sound, usually a vowel, made with the tongue's highest part far back in the mouth.
32
noun
The rear of a shirt, jacket, dress or any other clothes, resting on your back.
33
nounobsolete
Your body as the thing you wear clothes on, as in "the clothes on your back."
Do thou but think / What ’tis to cram a maw or clothe a back / From such a filthy vice
1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
34
noun
The spine of a book, the side where the pages are held together.
35
noun
The blank edge of a page closest to where the book is bound.
36
noun
The blunt edge of a knife or other blade, away from the cutting side.
37
noun
The top of a hill, rock or wave that looks like an animal's back.
38
noun
The long beams along the bottom of a ship.
39
noun
The ceiling of a level tunnel in a mine.
40
nounslang
Hard work, usually with your body.
41
noun
A very thick, heavy piece of tanned leather.
42
noun
Short for backstroke in swimming.
43
verb
Of the wind, to change direction counterclockwise, such as from north to west.
44
verb
To set a boat's sails against the breeze in order to slow it down.
45
verb
To drop an extra small anchor to help the main one hold.
46
verbUK
Of a hunting dog, to freeze in place behind another dog that is pointing.
47
verbobsolete
To get up and sit on a horse or other animal.
I will back him [a horse] straight.
c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth,”
48
verbobsolete
To put someone or something on an animal's back.
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, / Appeared to me.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”
49
verb
To write on the other side of a paper, sometimes to sign it.
50
verb
To sign a warrant sent from another county so that local police can arrest someone with it.
51
verb
To row the opposite way so a boat goes backward.
52
verbdialectalMulticultural London English
To pull out a knife or weapon from behind you.
53
verbNigeria
To have a baby or young child ride on your back.
54
noun
A big, shallow tank used by brewers and other workers to hold or cool liquids.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of back apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English "bæc," meaning back. The older Germanic root may go back to a word meaning "to bend."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Back descends from Old English bæc. nl.wiktionary.org
Old English bæc means back. en.wiktionary.org
The Germanic ancestor may derive from a root meaning to bend. en.wiktionary.org