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
Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
The back-to-school season was strong for athletic footwear, Circana found.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
Ray Dalio, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
In its polling, Quinnipiac found a greater divide between the two candidates, with 51 percent support for Sherrill and 43 percent for Ciattarelli, finding that those who prioritized taxes backed the Republican while those who prioritized health care and ethics in government backed the Democrat.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
After several minutes, officers heard a single shot fired from inside, toward what was believed to be in the direction of the other officers at the back door, the report states.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
The graft is secured with sutures and the incision in the elbow is stitched back together.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
When coming to a flooded road, turn around and head back.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Achane led all backs in carries (18) and rushing yards (67) while Gordon came in second in both categories.
—Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
The back-to-school season was strong for athletic footwear, Circana found.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Fiat currencies, on the other hand, are not linked to or backed by anything, so they aren't limited in supply.
—Ray Dalio, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
In its polling, Quinnipiac found a greater divide between the two candidates, with 51 percent support for Sherrill and 43 percent for Ciattarelli, finding that those who prioritized taxes backed the Republican while those who prioritized health care and ethics in government backed the Democrat.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The back strap is enriched with the signature Ribbon buckle, also in a metallic silver.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
After several minutes, officers heard a single shot fired from inside, toward what was believed to be in the direction of the other officers at the back door, the report states.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
The fixture list wasn’t kind to them to begin the season, as was the case two years ago.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
McGovern, who has a background producing reality TV shows like Bar Rescue, began creating parenting content online a few years ago.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
And rather than being designed in a Top Secret military facility—literally, Area 51, used for the U-2—at the expense of billions of taxpayer dollars, Planet’s doing it with around six hundred employees and hardly a security clearance in sight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Wood was a radio announcer and jazz disc jockey and took DeJohnette around to clubs.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that following the initial collision between the Chevrolet Camero and Ford Fusion, the semi-truck hit the Camaro in the rear.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
People think that the rear of the aircraft is bad.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Instead of gathering experts who advocate for their functional perspective and then compromise, AI enables teams where each member can think holistically across functions.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The veteran coach believes the solution to the problem is to cut some games off the 82-game schedule, a view shared by Cleveland Cavaliers coach (and former Kerr assistant) Kenny Atkinson, who recently advocated for a 72-game season.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By aiding mariners, Airy believed, such measurements provided a tangible service to the state that the newfangled spectroscopy might not be able to match.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Michael Kayode’s cannonball long throws, which Slot said Liverpool had practised defending on Friday and spoken about again on Saturday, were a constant problem, but the visitors repeatedly, and needlessly, aided Brentford by putting the ball out of play in their own defensive third.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These past two days have reinforced for me the importance of codifying principles and creating a road map to achieve them.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Walking backward could have meaningful benefits for joint health, chronic pain and even brain health, and there's scientific evidence to back it up.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
To start with a wedding, then wait ’til later to figure out the details of who washes the dishes and whether the toilet seat stays down, sounds backwards but is certainly better than hostage-taking and war without an achievable end.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 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 1 Nov. 2025.
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