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back·flow | \ ˈbak-ˌflō 
\
\Definition of backflow
: a flowing back or returning especially toward a source
Examples of backflow in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Local insurance agent Ray Sandoval was leery about having let a city Water Works employee inside his office to check his backflow preventer the day before the city’s public announcement.
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Christian Sheckler, Indianapolis Star, "Details on coronavirus cases often scant as Midwest health officials point to privacy laws," 6 Apr. 2020 Start by closing the valve on the backflow preventer, which is also known as a pressure vacuum breaker.
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Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System," 16 Sep. 2019 Shut the backflow valve and then open the manual drain valve on the sprinkler system.
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Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System," 16 Sep. 2019 Metacarpal When the head is lowered, valves in the veins close to prevent backflow of blood.
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National Geographic, "Unique anatomy sets giraffe apart in the animal kingdom," 20 Sep. 2019 Charcoal and pieces of rock from the ensuing tsunami’s backflow were discovered, although sulfur was notably absent, according to researchers.
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Fox News, "Day the dinosaurs died: Asteroid impact site reveals devastation from power of 10 billion A-bombs," 10 Sep. 2019 County auditors said Moore in a year’s time had made more than $18,000 in questionable purchases, including 11 faucets, 11 backflow-preventer repair kits and 108 feet of red brass pipe that could not be accounted for.
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Larry Barszewski, sun-sentinel.com, "Port Everglades fraud scandal racks up two guilty pleas," 7 Aug. 2019 Calcium deposits in heart valves lead to scarring that can restrict outflow and allow backflow.
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WSJ, "Cardiovascular Health Frontier Is Calcium," 8 Oct. 2018 Keep in mind that some kits don’t include pressure regulators, timers, backflow preventers, and line filters.
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The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Install a Drip Irrigation System in Your Garden," 17 July 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backflow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for backflow
The first known use of backflow was in 1878
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