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
Synonyms
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 WebRon Counts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2024
Inquiring minds want to know after watching a fun Facebook livestream this week with her grandmother Randi Mahomes, mother of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 28, shared a glimpse of her family's fishing excursion on Wednesday, April 3, on her Instagram Stories.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
In a December 1974 playoff game between the Dolphins and Raiders, Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler -- with his team down 26-21 and 35 seconds left -- dropped back to pass and was flushed out of the pocket and nearly sacked by Dolphins defensive end Vern Den Herder.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Among the notables this week: Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who visited Denver on Tuesday, sources confirmed to The Post.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Also competing will be UCLA quarterback commit Karson Gordon, the nation’s No. 1 triple jumper.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Of course, the quarterback coach does not make the final call.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh McCown, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, has also arrived.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
Mason Rudolph has quarterbacked the Steelers to wins over Cincinnati and Seattle to put them in this position.
—Noah Trister, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024
Will quarterback Matthew Stafford return from a right thumb injury that kept him out of Sunday’s 20-3 loss at Green Bay?
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
Darnold wasn’t needed as an emergency starter as Purdy quarterbacked the 49ers to the NFC West title, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a pair of playoff comebacks en route to the NFC crown, and, eventually, an overtime loss in the Super Bowl.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Alex Smith, who quarterbacked Utah to national prominence two decades ago, is among the 22-member College Football Hall of Fame class announced Monday by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2024
The Chiefs, quarterbacked by Mahomes and coached by Andy Reid, could take the baton from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, and redefine the 21st century of football.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
Brady won the 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Super Bowls quarterbacking the New England Patriots, and the 2021 Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
—Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024
As far the Senior Bowl is concerned, the Cowboys have a plethora of needs to explore, including offensive tackle, linebacker, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and possibly quarterback.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2024
Noun
Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and nose tackle Herbert Gums were both credited with one quarterback hurry.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2024
Inquiring minds want to know after watching a fun Facebook livestream this week with her grandmother Randi Mahomes, mother of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
The wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 28, shared a glimpse of her family's fishing excursion on Wednesday, April 3, on her Instagram Stories.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
In a December 1974 playoff game between the Dolphins and Raiders, Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler -- with his team down 26-21 and 35 seconds left -- dropped back to pass and was flushed out of the pocket and nearly sacked by Dolphins defensive end Vern Den Herder.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Among the notables this week: Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who visited Denver on Tuesday, sources confirmed to The Post.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Also competing will be UCLA quarterback commit Karson Gordon, the nation’s No. 1 triple jumper.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Of course, the quarterback coach does not make the final call.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh McCown, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, has also arrived.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
In the second quarter, second-year linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, a former Lions sixth-round draft pick from 2022, intercepted 2022 seventh-rounder Brock Purdy, the Queen Creek native who quarterbacks the 49ers.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
Mason Rudolph has quarterbacked the Steelers to wins over Cincinnati and Seattle to put them in this position.
—Noah Trister, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024
Will quarterback Matthew Stafford return from a right thumb injury that kept him out of Sunday’s 20-3 loss at Green Bay?
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
Darnold wasn’t needed as an emergency starter as Purdy quarterbacked the 49ers to the NFC West title, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a pair of playoff comebacks en route to the NFC crown, and, eventually, an overtime loss in the Super Bowl.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Alex Smith, who quarterbacked Utah to national prominence two decades ago, is among the 22-member College Football Hall of Fame class announced Monday by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2024
The Chiefs, quarterbacked by Mahomes and coached by Andy Reid, could take the baton from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, and redefine the 21st century of football.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
Brady won the 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Super Bowls quarterbacking the New England Patriots, and the 2021 Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
—Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024
As far the Senior Bowl is concerned, the Cowboys have a plethora of needs to explore, including offensive tackle, linebacker, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and possibly quarterback.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quarterback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1892, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing quarterback
Dictionary Entries Near quarterback
Cite this Entry
“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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
Nglish: Translation of quarterback for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quarterback
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