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 WebHannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
The former Carolina Panthers quarterback recently had a baby with comedian Jasmin Brown, who he’s been dating since 2021.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Apr. 2024
The Bengals quarterback and head coach answered a few post-game questions from Simpson, who at the time was a broadcaster for NBC.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024
Previous previews: quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Tiller, who started the LA Bowl, is the only other quarterback on the roster that has started a game.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
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
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The play of the day belonged to quarterback Ethan Garbers, who completed a 55-yard pass to slot receiver Logan Loya.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Our outlook for the Wolverines is based on the expectation of a key departure — not quarterback J.J. McCarthy but coach Jim Harbaugh, who will have several NFL offers to consider and a Super Bowl to chase.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
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
Noun
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, 28, and his wife Emily have welcomed their first baby together, daughter Kova Jade Mayfield.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
The former Carolina Panthers quarterback recently had a baby with comedian Jasmin Brown, who he’s been dating since 2021.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Apr. 2024
The Bengals quarterback and head coach answered a few post-game questions from Simpson, who at the time was a broadcaster for NBC.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2024
Previous previews: quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Tiller, who started the LA Bowl, is the only other quarterback on the roster that has started a game.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
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
Verb
The former four-star recruit lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track, quarterbacking his high school to back-to-back undefeated state titles (the only ones in school history) while personally winning state championships in the 100 meters and long jump his senior year.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The play of the day belonged to quarterback Ethan Garbers, who completed a 55-yard pass to slot receiver Logan Loya.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Our outlook for the Wolverines is based on the expectation of a key departure — not quarterback J.J. McCarthy but coach Jim Harbaugh, who will have several NFL offers to consider and a Super Bowl to chase.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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