quarterback

1 of 2

noun

quar·​ter·​back ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌbak How to pronounce quarterback (audio)
Synonyms of quarterbacknext
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

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
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.
Noun
Tom Cruise sat elbow to elbow with David Beckham; UCLA and Los Angeles Lakers star Kareem Abdul Jabbar got a rousing ovation and Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was lustily booed. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 June 2026 Morgan and Tilis have other potential extensions to sort out over the next few months, as cornerback Mike Jackson and quarterback Bryce Young are among potential candidates for new deals. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
Verb
Everything seems to be trending in the right direction for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026 The game plan is to hit first, before the defense can react and adjust, something the Dolphins often did well with McDaniel as their head coach, Barry coaching the offensive line and Tua Tagovailoa quarterbacking an up-tempo offense. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quarterback

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quarterback was in 1879

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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

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