quar·ter·back
ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌbak 
1
: an offensive back in football who usually lines up behind the center, calls the signals, and directs the offensive play of the team
2
: one who directs and leads
quarterbacked; quarterbacking; quarterbacks
1
: to direct the offensive play of
quarterback a football team
2
: to give executive direction to : boss
… quarterbacked the original buying syndicate.—
Time
Time
: to play quarterback
Examples of quarterback in a Sentence
Verb
He quarterbacked his high school team.
She quarterbacked the company's latest ad campaign.
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Rodgers isn’t the only quarterback to have given his lineman special gifts this year.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota were both out, which meant emergency signal-caller Josh Johnson was inserted as a starter.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quarterback
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Noun
UConn was without star quarterback Joe Fagnano, who, after throwing for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns and one interception, opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Rodgers isn’t the only quarterback to have given his lineman special gifts this year.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Verb
Maye joined Tom Brady (11 times) and Drew Bledsoe (twice) as the only New England quarterbacks to reach 4,000 yards passing in a season.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota were both out, which meant emergency signal-caller Josh Johnson was inserted as a starter.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quarterback
Cite this Entry
“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025.
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