back burner

noun

: the condition of being out of active consideration or development
usually used in the phrase on the back burner
back-burner transitive verb

Examples of back burner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Meanwhile, a Seattle Seahawks visit appears to be on the back burner months after the team won the Super Bowl. Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 Per the insider, Woods has made a point of showing up for his girlfriend while putting his personal matters on the back burner. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 June 2026 This dialogue did not reach an agreement and moved to the back burner once Ferguson’s multi-million pound annual ambassadorial role was ended by United as part of the cost-cutting. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 15 June 2026 Leaders are increasingly putting talent retention on the back burner. Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for back burner

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back burner was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Back burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20burner. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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