back of

preposition

Synonyms of back ofnext
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

Examples of back of in a Sentence

the equipment shed is a concrete structure back of the school
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When firefighters arrived, the back of the bus was fully engulfed in flames. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 Mason fired one shot into the back of his head, prosecutors said, and Harris fired three more shortly afterward, when Lewis was already on the ground. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 Defender Luka Vuskovic’s long-range shot ricocheted off a defender, and Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was unable to stop it from hitting the back of the net. Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026 New York sat a game back of Boston entering Friday’s action, with Detroit holding a comfortable 4 1/2-game cushion atop the conference standings. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back of

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back of was in 1694

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Cite this Entry

“Back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20of. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

back of

preposition
informal
: behind entry 2 sense 1
out back of the barn
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