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

This Aurora story kicked off in 1926 when Italian immigrant Tony Prisco started selling fresh fruit and vegetables from the back of a truck, eventually opening a storefront on Lake Street with the help of his father Gaetano. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Most of us reach for breezy linen pants and flowy maxi dresses during summer, leaving our denim banished to the back of the closet. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

In a seller’s market, however, he might be constrained by a dearth of prospect capital and some reluctance to trade from the back of his big-league bullpen. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 26 July 2026

At the back of this pharmacy is a beloved restaurant that does New Mexico classics like red-and-green chile enchiladas and huevos rancheros. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 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