on the back burner
idiom
chiefly US
: in the position of something that will not receive immediate attention and action
She put her singing career on the back burner to pursue her dream of being a movie star.
Examples of on the back burner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because music was on the back burner, her focus on it shifted.
—
Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Hollywood star appears to be fully focused on his acting career, leaving professional wrestling on the back burner.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
All of which has put some of his favorite stress relievers, including running, on the back burner.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The basketball gods have handed us an opportunity — a chance to stir up a rivalry that has been sitting cold and coagulating on the back burner for far too long.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the back burner
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.
Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Hollywood star appears to be fully focused on his acting career, leaving professional wrestling on the back burner.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
All of which has put some of his favorite stress relievers, including running, on the back burner.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
The basketball gods have handed us an opportunity — a chance to stir up a rivalry that has been sitting cold and coagulating on the back burner for far too long.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the back burner
Cite this Entry
“On the back burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20burner. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share