outback

noun

out·back | \ ˈau̇t-ˈbak

How to pronounce outback (audio)

, -ˌbak\

Definition of outback

: isolated rural country especially of Australia

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about outback

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of outback in a Sentence

people who live in the Australian outback tend to be self-sufficient

Recent Examples on the Web

And Kaokoland—its spectacular outback—is for those who want to savor remotest Africa, far from safari circuits and game parks. — Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, "Going Off-Grid in Namibia," 21 Dec. 2018 Still places, for those who care, where squirrels chatter in the trees and billowing clouds are not smoke, but afternoon thundersqualls refreshing the outback. — Dennis Wagner, azcentral, "A refuge and memories go up in smoke as another backcountry paradise burns away," 5 May 2018 The outback climb takes you through many microclimates, sweeping vistas, giant redwoods, and quiet country roads. — Annie Daly, SELF, "12 Beautiful Biking Destinations You’ll Want to Add to Your Bucket List," 18 July 2018 An enormous crocodile that had long eluded authorities in Australia's northern outback has finally been captured, officials said Tuesday. — Deutsche Welle, USA TODAY, "Giant 16.4-foot saltwater crocodile captured in Australia," 10 July 2018 Australian Outback Marathon The course is mostly flat—this is the outback after all—with a few sandy dunes to climb, offering a direct line of sight to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). — Rachel Levin, WSJ, "The Toughest Half-Marathon You’ll Want to Plan a Trip Around," 3 July 2018 Experience lush green rainforests and sparkling turquoise waters complimented by luxurious island resorts and remote outback stations. — Stuart Rigg, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Australia," 5 Oct. 2016 The return sample capsule, which landed in the Australian outback in June 2010, carried 1500 particles of asteroid dust, despite glitches with the sample collection mechanism. — Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, "Japan’s new asteroid probe reaches its target after 3.2-billion-kilometer journey," 27 June 2018 His relatives knew Garcia was there that night and rushed to the property, zooming up Okeechobee into the desolate outback. — David Ovalle, miamiherald, "Who shot the cockfight ref? Secret arena outside Miami was packed but nobody's talking," 12 June 2018

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about outback

Dictionary Entries near outback

Statistics for outback

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for outback

The first known use of outback was in 1893

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

remittance

a sum of money that is sent as a payment

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

Which came first?

snarky sarcastic

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ