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
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Caliendo handled the rest of the game, allowing no quarterback pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Earlier this month, Bush told PEOPLE that Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, have previously put on the party, but work commitments prevented Steinfeld from continuing the tradition.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quarterback
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Noun
How has quarterback play impacted the College Football Playoff race?
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Caliendo handled the rest of the game, allowing no quarterback pressures on 32 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Before Sayin took over starting duties, WIll Howard quarterbacked Ohio State to a College Football Playoff National Championship last season.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Earlier this month, Bush told PEOPLE that Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, have previously put on the party, but work commitments prevented Steinfeld from continuing the tradition.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2025.
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