quarterback

1 of 2

noun

quar·​ter·​back ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌbak How to pronounce quarterback (audio)
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

quarterback

2 of 2

verb

quarterbacked; quarterbacking; quarterbacks

transitive verb

1
: to direct the offensive play of
quarterback a football team
2
: to give executive direction to : boss
quarterbacked the original buying syndicateTime

intransitive verb

: 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
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.
Noun
When the model announced her pregnancy, the quarterback did not comment on it directly, but did post some emotional song lyrics to Instagram on the same day. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 The other decided to build around a young quarterback and let its best player sign with a division rival, before cutting that quarterback in favor a memeable backup – putting the head coach and GM on the hot seat just two years after a playoff run. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre knows a thing or two about what gets the people of Wisconsin going, having quarterbacked their beloved Green Bay Packers for 16 years with a Super Bowl victory in 1997. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2024 Plunkett was named game MVP, becoming the first person of color to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory. Ignacio Ornelas, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quarterback 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quarterback was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near quarterback

Cite this Entry

“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

quarterback

noun
quar·​ter·​back
ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər-ˌbak
: an offensive football back who calls the signals and directs the offensive play of the team
quarterback verb

More from Merriam-Webster on quarterback

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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