1
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
turned back for one last comment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backwards
toward the rear
concert security asked the crowd to move back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point
a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to advocate
to promote the interests or cause of
she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
the author needs to back her thesis with more facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part
she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of back
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Seek out the people who reflect your vision back to you with clarity.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Is your lower back really hurting?
—Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As such, Girls Supports Girls has enlisted some major sponsors to back the event, including the French film and TV promotion org Unifrance, the Canal+ foundation and Canal+ University, Transpalux, the French Institute in Rwanda and the org CineFemmes Rwanda.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
The carrier turned around, caught up to the van and took photos, including of the back license plate.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
Cameron’s team built machines that were water jet propelled so that his actors could rocket through the water under the surface, come up and fly above the surface and then dive back in, all the while letting the technology drive the story and vice versa.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Seek out the people who reflect your vision back to you with clarity.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
Neither back has had a carry of 15-plus yards yet in 2025, one of the many statistics pointing to the Panthers’ lack of explosive plays on offense.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Is your lower back really hurting?
—Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
Each routinely backs the Democratic Party line in their respective chambers of Congress.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As such, Girls Supports Girls has enlisted some major sponsors to back the event, including the French film and TV promotion org Unifrance, the Canal+ foundation and Canal+ University, Transpalux, the French Institute in Rwanda and the org CineFemmes Rwanda.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
And in a different year, with a different quarterback, the outcome was the same early in Monday night’s first quarter as Higgins pivoted to his back-shoulder and slammed to the turf with a 19-yard catch.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
The carrier turned around, caught up to the van and took photos, including of the back license plate.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
The water crisis a decade ago decimated the city and the schools.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Two years ago, the department decided to make the move to Clydesdales after training with other departments in Toronto, Canada, Dills said.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Her favorite ways to move around are by train and bike, and her backpack always has nuts, clementines, and something to read.—
Kristin Braswell,
AFAR Media,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have been around for about half of the franchise’s existence — two long-time pillars on the back end.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Thick smoke poured from the rear of the FW47, appearing to originate around the brakes, prompting Williams mechanics to grab CO2 extinguishers and attempt to douse the flames.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Those can be inserted into the rear of the console.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
-
There will be plenty of temptation to go right for the jugular Monday night against a beleaguered Bengals defense.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The commonwealth has been without an operational freestanding birthing center since the 1980s, said Mary Kathryn DeLodder, director of the Kentucky Birth Coalition — a grassroots organization that led the charge in advocating for legislation loosening regulations for the facilities.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Ascension Saint Thomas President and CEO Fahad Tahir is among many local health care leaders advocating for Congress to extend the tax credits.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s little blood supply in that area to aid the healing process.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Colorado had a chance to retake the lead after Salter led the offense down to the TCU 2-yard line, aided by a controversial pass interference call on Vernon Glover on third down.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The clutch start in the regional only reinforced it.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Wooden vessels for polar exploration typically reinforced the hulls internally with diagonal support beams, which braced the sides of the ship against lateral compression from powerful sea ice, said Tuhkuri, who researches the mechanics of ice.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Video shows the two appear to have an interaction back at the driver's side door after Sanchez follows the man, who is seen walking backwards away from him.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Security footage then showed the driver walking backward away from the former quarterback, who followed him, the Indy Star reported.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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