back 1 of 5

Definition of backnext
1
as in ago
earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

back

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
as in rear
a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

back

3 of 5

verb

1
2
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

back

4 of 5

adjective

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

backer

5 of 5

noun (2)

1
2
as in sponsor
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of back
Adverb
Players exchanged hugs and headed back to the locker room. Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 18 June 2026 At the same time, aspirational consumers are pulling back due to steep price increases, so many luxury companies are increasingly focused on their highest-spending clients. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Noun
Hakimi, one of the best right backs in the world, denies any wrongdoing. ABC News, 19 June 2026 People didn’t dare touch her back or shoulders. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2026
Verb
Egypt were well backed in the stands against Belgium and looked set to end their drought after taking the lead through Emam Ashour’s thunderous strike, but a poor second half left them hanging on for a creditable point. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium reportedly backed Macron’s call for new EU powers to quickly impose tariffs on China. Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Adjective
If the weather permits, try to snag a table in the back courtyard. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026 However, the article posits AI's most transformative role will be in revolutionizing the administrative back office of trades like plumbing and HVAC, which largely operate on manual systems. Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Noun
Trump’s backers continued to complain about the touchscreen voting machines, with some loyalists espousing wild conspiracy theories. Kate Brumback, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026 Its backers anticipated the early vote would not break their way, but ballots cast on Election Day would turn the tide. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • Centrist Paz took office seven months ago, inheriting the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation that helped propel the end of nearly two decades of leftist rule.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • Café Momentum just opened a few years ago in Downtown Pittsburgh, and it's already been rated one of the best in western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
    Josh Taylor, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Adverb
  • The next inning, the Rays’ Ben Williamson hit a two-out single to Tucker in right field, and Tampa’s Jonathan Aranda darted around third toward home.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • Sublime is in the tiny town of Muda, and there’s really nothing around except the hotel and miles of forest.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
Adverb
  • The Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the public on Friday, on Juneteenth, hugs the north end of Jackson Park, runs alongside a lagoon, rises 225 feet at its highest, and rolls backward down Stony Island Avenue, settling into 58,000 square feet of brilliantly green sloping lawn.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • More complicated maneuvers can be completed by adjusting the tension on the lines or by running forward and backward.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Investigators determined Courtney Getz, who was driving the Nissan, hit the rear of the dump truck.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
  • However, Miami Police spokesman Michael Vega confirmed to the Herald after the citations became available that, according to the officer’s account, the red and blue lights on the rear of the SUV were flashing at the time of the stop.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • And then Alvarez went for the jugular with a grand slam to deep center field.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
  • The president’s instinct to go for the jugular was on display in his first campaign, when he was written off early on as an entertainer but found success with brutal takedowns.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Many hawks advocated introducing ground troops, but doing so would have made matters much worse.
    Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
  • This success has spurred WWE officials to advocate for a significant push for Gable, with strong support for a prominent role at SummerSlam 2026 in his hometown.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Players are asked to protect Prythian from the villainous King of Hybern by traveling across the kingdom's seven courts (aka the game board) to acquire properties, powers and more to aid in the war.
    Kirsten Acuna, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
  • Recent rescue numbers could’ve been even higher, Yacenda said, but lifeguards have been aided by colder water and the fact that some schools are still in session — meaning crowds have been smaller.
    Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Ukraine’s most important innovation may be its ability to integrate tactical drones, operational strike systems, strategic drone campaigns, artillery, aircraft and conventional ground forces into a mutually reinforcing system.
    Hunter LaCroix, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026
  • For Edwards, the reaction reinforced why authentic storytelling matters more than ever, especially in her field of work.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on back

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster