take a back seat

idiomatic phrase

variants or take a backseat
: to have or assume a secondary position or status : to be or become less important, active, or powerful
Howard loved directing "more than I even thought I would," and his acting career has taken a back seat ever since.Newsweek
That's why Bryant's willingness to tone down his game is significant. It doesn't mean, however, that he's content to take a backseat indefinitely.Phil Taylor
often used with to
Physically and emotionally, these guys take a back seat to no one.Mark Vancil

Examples of take a back seat in a Sentence

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.
Mowing will typically take a back seat in the colder months as some grass varieties go dormant while others slow down growth. Lauren David, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025 Nevertheless, Padilla and others have said that wave energy had taken a back seat to other forms of alternative energy for some time. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025 This was a client-friendly collection and the vintage Chanel logo-ism that’s been all over Instagram can take a back seat to a more mature, minimal and fresh collection. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025 As bold colors take a back seat, this simple neutral is steering paint trends in a more calm, timeless direction. Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take a back seat

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take a back seat was in 1838

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Cite this Entry

“Take a back seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20back%20seat. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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