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
Well, that and Sam Bennett then fighting Andrei Svechnikov, who had purposely thumped Sergei Bobrovsky’s head back in Game 1. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2025 He was ordered to pay back $9,402,678 in restitution and serve 10 years on probation. Jennifer Sangalang, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Noun
His muscles shrunk after the ejections, and will calcify, leading to muscle knotting in his back. Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025 Díaz sprang from behind the plate, picked up the ball on the line with his back to first base, spun and threw out Murphy by a step. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Verb
Jannik Sinner arrived at Roland Garros as one of the favorites at the French Open, with bettors overwhelmingly backing him and Carlos Alcaraz to claim the men’s title. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 26 May 2025 Longtime collaborators and two-time Palme d’Or winners Ken Loach and Paul Laverty have shared a lengthy open letter backing Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, the latest feature from Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi, which debuts this evening in Cannes. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Adjective
Remi Wolfe did a much better job with her set, delighting listeners with songs from her strong back catalog. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 24 May 2025 One of the first Georgians to enroll in the program in 2023, Seaborn had written a letter thanking his insurance provider for covering a procedure for his back pain. Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • Defense created easy offense and in the halfcourt, the ball skipped around.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
  • Some of that is related to how much safety Derwin James Jr. moves around.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Rather than denim bottoms, the Broadway star opted for a pair of leather chaps, which left room in the rear for a pair of sparkling black hot pants to peek through, one behind-the-scenes photo shows.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • Being moved to the rear of the field also resulted in the loss of Ericsson's and Kirkwood's prize money and the championship points from their original finishes.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 27 May 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
  • Experts say that lessons learned from attempts to preserve more challenging, international historical sites on Earth shows there's a critical need to advocate for global cooperation and policy frameworks now — before irreversible damage occurs.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 29 May 2025
  • Pope Leo called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages in a May 28 general audience, following in the steps of his predecessor Pope Francis, who was both praised and criticized for using his position to advocate for ending the war in Gaza.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • She was aided on the DeLeon groundout by a spectacular play by Karlie Davison at second base, who laid out to field the ball and made a strong throw to beat the runner to first.
    Ethan Westerman, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
  • Fire crews on the ground were being aided by aircraft.
    Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • That reinforces the original (or last) experience the customer had with you.
    Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025
Adverb
  • There’s a chance Moses’ play takes a meaningful step backward at age 34 and in a brand-new offense.
    Chad Graff, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • What emerged from this great leap backward was a diverse efflorescence of art that directly addressed the very things the church ignored.
    Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Does Kate Middleton have a soft spot for Prince Harry & Meghan Markle?
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 May 2025
  • Will Howard had ‘soft spot’ for Pittsburgh Though prospects came from around the country to participate in minicamp, Downingtown, Pa., native Will Howard jumped in his car and made a casual, four-hour drive across the state to join his new team.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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