back of

preposition

US, informal

: behind

… stood leaning against a parked car out back of the building …

—Peter Goldman et al.

They now sit … just two games back of the Yankees in the wild card race.

—Steve Buckley

Synonyms of back of

• in back of
• behind

Examples of back of in a Sentence

the equipment shed is a concrete structure back of the school

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout the weekend, Elliott Martin, the FIA’s WEC electronics manager, and a small team commandeer a trailer at the back of the paddock, keeping an eye on dangerous data coming off the cars. — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

After Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood sailed his Hail Mary attempt out of the back of the endzone and the clock hit triple zeros, the officials reviewed the play and elected to put one second back on the clock. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Little Cheol looks on, unnoticed, from the back of every room. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Half of her hair was fixed into a bun at the back of her head, while the rest was left to cascade down her spine, eclipsed under her veil. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove

Kids Definition

back of

preposition

informal

: behind entry 2 sense 1

out back of the barn