back

1 earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember Synonyms agone [archaic], ago, since, syne [chiefly Scottish]Antonyms hence

2 toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment Synonyms about, around, backward (or backwards), roundRelated Words behind, down, downward (or downwards), rearward (also rearwards); obversely, reversely; across, athwart, counter, counterclockwise, widdershins (also withershins)Near Antonyms clockwise, deasil

3 toward the rear staring back, the newly convicted felon vowed revenge Synonyms backward, rearward (also rearwards)Related Words astern, sternforemost; anticlockwise [chiefly British], counterclockwise, left-handed, left-handedly, retrograde, reversely, widdershins (also withershins)Near Antonyms beforeAntonyms ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward (also onwards)

1 a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank Synonyms rear, reverse, tailAntonyms face, forehead, forepart, front

2 a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back Synonyms Achilles' heel, chink, jugular, soft spot, underbellyRelated Words downfall, ruin, undoing; hamartia, tragic flaw

1 to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities Synonyms advocate, support, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)Related Words adopt, embrace, espouse; abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with); backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advance, forward, further; plug, preach, talk up; bail out, deliver, rescue, saveNear Antonyms baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down

2 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 abet, aid, assist, help, backstop, prop (up), supportRelated Words advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serveNear Antonyms balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injureAntonyms hinder

3 to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts Synonyms support, bolster, buttress, corroborate, reinforce (also reenforce), shore (up), substantiateRelated Words confirm, establish, prove, verify; affirm, avouch, validateNear Antonyms undercut, undermine, weaken