Synonyms of back

back 1 of 5

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
• backwards
• down
• backward
• round
• about
• behind
• downwards
• downward
• rearward
• across
• rearwards
• counter
• reversely
• counterclockwise
• withershins
• athwart
• obversely
• widdershins

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clockwise
• deasil

3

as in backwards

toward the rear

concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

back

2 of 5

noun (1)

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 5

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

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)
• bolster
• abet
• backstop
• facilitate
• promote
• guide
• encourage
• comfort
• endorse
• to stand one in good stead
• sponsor
• launch
• foster
• ease
• rescue
• indorse
• minister (to)
• serve
• benefit
• attend
• sustain
• champion
• reenforce
• 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
• shore (up)
• corroborate
• reenforce
• confirm
• establish
• substantiate
• verify
• validate
• affirm
• avouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undermine
• weaken
• undercut

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

backer

5 of 5

noun (2)

1

as in supporter

a person who actively supports or favors a cause

backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supporter
• proponent
• advocate
• advocator
• exponent
• promoter
• booster
• friend
• protagonist
• apostle
• white knight
• champion
• paladin
• gospeller
• tub-thumper
• high priest
• true believer
• hierophant
• espouser
• adherent
• expounder
• stalwart
• herald
• gospeler
• loyalist
• partizan
• disciple
• follower
• interpreter
• cheerleader
• cohort
• partisan
• encourager
• fellow traveler
• applauder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opponent
• enemy
• adversary
• antagonist
• foe
• rival
• critic
• belittler
• faultfinder

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

• sponsor
• patron
• supporter
• guarantor
• benefactor
• advocate
• surety
• teacher
• coach
• underwriter
• mentor
• champion
• chaperon
• cosponsor
• chaperone
• angel
• cosigner
• cosignatory

3

as in ally

someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support

the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supporter
• ally
• sympathizer
• colleague
• friend
• confidant
• bedfellow
• assistant
• fellow traveler
• partner
• abettor
• associate
• collaborator
• confederate
• abetter
• accomplice
• buddy
• fellow
• helper
• collaborationist
• accessory
• pal
• companion
• coadjutor
• well-wisher
• adjunct
• chum
• accessary
• empathizer
• cohort
• comrade
• familiar
• coalitionist
• intimate
• crony
• mate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enemy
• detractor
• opponent
• foe
• adversary
• belittler

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

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes