backpack

noun

back·pack | \ ˈbak-ˌpak

Definition of backpack

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a load carried on the back

b : a camping pack (as of canvas or nylon) supported by a usually aluminum frame and carried on the back

c : knapsack

2 : a piece of equipment designed for use while being carried on the back

backpack

verb

backpacked; backpacking; backpacks

Definition of backpack (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to carry (food or equipment) on the back especially in hiking

intransitive verb

: to hike with a backpack

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Examples of backpack in a Sentence

Noun

stuffed her backpack with so many books that she could barely walk

Verb

After college, she backpacked through Europe. We're planning to go backpacking in a national park this summer.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Plus, all of my stuff was still there—my laptop, my backpack, everything. — Marie Claire, "A Year of Grieving and Healing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School," 14 Feb. 2019 In three major cases in September, the FTC ruled against three companies—a maker of military-themed backpacks, a hockey puck manufacturer and an online mattress retailer—that falsely represented products as made in America. — Heidi Vogt, WSJ, "U.S. Manufacturers Push FTC to Crack Down on False ‘Made in America’ Labels," 20 Nov. 2018 Nylon backpacks, purses and clutches larger than 4½ by 5½ inches were not. — Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, "Festivalgoers mostly see through new clear-bag policy at Clusterfest 2018," 1 June 2018 Every year, the average person throws away roughly 70lbs of clothing and other wearable waste like backpacks, broken watches and hats, according to the Council for Textile Recycling. — Kristen A. Schmitt, Smithsonian, "Are These Baked Mushroom Sandals the Future of Fashion?," 23 May 2018 The suspects then fled the location with the teen's backpack, containing $10 and an iPhone 6. — Hanna Krueger, NOLA.com, "Woman apparently knocked out with battery-filled socks and robbed near French Quarter: NOPD," 29 Apr. 2018 The Trekker is versatile enough to be worn like a backpack, or placed on top of everything from cars to boats to zip-lines. — Dami Lee, The Verge, "Google updated its Street View Trekker to look slightly less dorky," 18 Dec. 2018 Order negotiations have dragged on, says Andy Li, sales manager for a company in the southern province of Fujian that supplies backpacks and other assorted textile merchandise for companies such as Walmart. — Natasha Khan, WSJ, "American Retailers Squeeze Chinese Suppliers as Tariffs Start to Hurt," 28 Nov. 2018 The company since been outfitting adventure travelers around the world with backpacks and outdoor gear to go anywhere. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "Hike With Your Kids Using These Child Carrier Backpacks," 28 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But rather than backpacking across Europe, Abdi decided to give modeling a try and quickly became one of the seasons standouts walking Miu Miu, Valentino, Off-White, and opening Marc Jacobs. — Vogue, "Meet the Top 14 Models of Fall 2019," 13 Mar. 2019 Two American kids backpacking through England are attacked by a monster, killing one and leaving the other...changed. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "The Best '80s Horror Movies That Are Still Terrifying Today," 23 Oct. 2018 The two met in Australia while Lee was backpacking around the world to celebrate her 60th birthday. — Brett Martin, Outside Online, "Katie Lee, Our Lady of Glen Canyon," 24 May 2018 For the past few years, McWilliams, originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been backpacking around the United States and Canada, making money on odd jobs and as an outdoors survival instructor. — Patty Hodapp, Outside Online, "The Man Who Survived a Rattler, Bear, and Shark Attack," 10 July 2018 Here are seven ways to keep your backpacking gear working like new for a long, long time. — Bryan Rogala, Outside Online, "Keep Your Backpacking Gear Working Like New," 24 May 2018 White was backpacking alone and snapped photos of the grizzly before the attack. — Anchorage Daily News, "The killing of an Eagle River hiker marks the 6th fatal bear attack in Alaska in the past 10 years. Here are the others.," 21 June 2018 But for day hiking, overnight backpacking, biking, and cragging, the always-venting hard shell worked really well. — Matt Jancer, Outside Online, "A Eulogy to the Sierra Designs Ultralight Trench," 12 June 2018 The shelters are the closest spot for backpacking for Milwaukeeans, offering a slice of wilderness in the most developed part of the state. — Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 remote campsites in Wisconsin for peace and quiet," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backpack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.