Synonyms of back

back 1 of 4

adverb

1

as in ago

earlier than the present time

that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ago
• since
• syne
• agone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hence

2

as in around

toward the opposite direction

turned back for one last comment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• down
• backward
• round
• about
• behind
• downward
• rearward
• across
• counter
• reversely
• counterclockwise
• athwart
• obversely
• widdershins

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clockwise
• deasil

3

as in backward

toward the rear

concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• backward
• rearward
• astern
• counterclockwise
• reversely
• widdershins
• sternforemost
• anticlockwise
• left-handedly
• left-handed
• retrograde

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forth
• forward
• on
• along
• ahead
• before
• forwards
• onward

back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak 

1

as in rear

a behind part or surface

the back of the page was blank

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rear
• tail
• reverse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• front
• face
• forehead
• forepart

2

as in jugular

a vulnerable point

a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jugular
• soft spot
• downfall
• underbelly
• Achilles' heel
• undoing
• chink
• ruin
• tragic flaw
• hamartia

back

3 of 4

verb

1

as in to advocate

to promote the interests or cause of

she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advocate
• endorse
• support
• embrace
• adopt
• champion
• help
• stand up for
• go in for
• patronize
• forward
• assist
• stick up for
• aid
• hold a brief for
• plunk (for)
• plump (for)
• go to bat for
• plonk (for)
• further
• reinforce
• save
• second
• bolster
• side (with)
• preach
• rescue
• buttress
• prop (up)
• espouse
• abet
• boost
• advance
• plug
• bail out
• backstop
• deliver
• talk up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interfere
• oppose
• thwart
• frustrate
• sabotage
• fail
• let down
• desert
• foil
• disappoint
• baffle

2

as in to aid

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end

a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aid
• assist
• help
• support
• forward
• reinforce
• save
• bear a hand
• further
• prop (up)
• abet
• bolster
• backstop
• facilitate
• promote
• guide
• encourage
• comfort
• to stand one in good stead
• endorse
• sponsor
• launch
• foster
• ease
• rescue
• minister (to)
• serve
• attend
• benefit
• sustain
• champion
• advance
• succor
• patronize
• buttress
• mentor
• care (for)
• bail out
• boost
• advise
• profit
• favor
• counsel
• nurture
• oblige
• deliver
• embolden
• hearten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hinder
• bar
• block
• restrain
• interfere
• hold back
• impede
• oppose
• hamper
• inhibit
• fail
• strangle
• obstruct
• constrain
• thwart
• balk
• let down
• handicap
• desert
• frustrate
• sabotage
• foil
• inconvenience
• discourage
• disappoint
• baffle
• hurt
• retard
• damage
• harm
• stifle
• repress
• injure
• straiten
• stunt
• dishearten

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reinforce
• bolster
• prove
• support
• buttress
• confirm
• shore (up)
• corroborate
• establish
• verify
• substantiate
• validate
• affirm
• avouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undermine
• weaken
• undercut

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rear
• hind
• aft
• after
• posterior
• hinder
• dorsal
• rearward
• hindmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• front
• forward
• anterior
• frontal
• fore
• ventral

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

Recent Examples of back

Adverb

But the news organizations pushed back against those summons, and the Justice Department withdrew them. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Stan’s dad, Randy (who is now the size of his son after going to Sephora and thus is forced to enroll back in school) does beat up Ike’s opponent, though, meaning his looksmaxxed face is no longer. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

But Fitzgerald has moved from his typical ball-hawking safety role due to injuries to other defensive backs this year. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

The ball was snapped with five seconds to go and Bowling Green had six defensive backs lined up on the goal line. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

The acquisition follows earlier textile deals backed by Greybull. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

The apartment development, between North Broadway and the Fox River downtown and backed by DAC developments, is set to be a 343,421-square-foot building with 258 apartments. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had avoided debating challenger Flávio Bolsonaro — the son of a former president jailed for staging a coup — but the rightist’s first-round victory put the president on the back foot. — semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Tucked in a slit in the back cover is a Cabello’s receipt for six rifles, ten smoke grenades, two hunting knives, a hundred zip ties, three KitKats. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing back

• (the) back of beyond
• back away
• back down
• back of
• back off
• back out
• back talk
• come back
• cut back
• drop back
• fall back
• fall back on
• flash back (to)
• get back
• go back on
• hang back
• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• hold back
• in back of
• kick back
• knock back
• pat on the back
• pay back
• roll back
• snap back
• stab in the back
• take back
• turn back
• turn one's back on

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Editor Peter Sokolowski breaks down a number of body parts with metaphorical uses as verbs, from head to toe.

Transcript:

Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can head a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors. A good leader backs their employees, but if you don't toe the line you might get skinned. Did you muscle your way into that job? You might eye someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to finger a suspect. But if you need to get out of town, try thumbing a ride. You can ride with me if you can stomach the thought. I don't always sing along to the radio, but you might see me mouthing the words.