back 1 of 5

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

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
Village officials, too, have to decide on what form the property along Washington Street, west of Milwaukee back to the tollway, will take. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 However, the intermediate-term measure move projection of approximately $504 is not far from current levels, so with support back near $456, the risk/reward would be more compelling after a pullback. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Noun
He was discovered lying face down on his bed covered in a blanket with trauma and what appeared to be a stab wound to his back, police source said. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025 That, and the fact that she’s had a lifelong battle with a bad back. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 June 2025
Verb
Over the course of the past year, pilot projects have begun the metamorphosis to commercial scale, generating new partnerships and backing from industry stalwarts, manufacturing experts and forward-thinking brands. Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 1 July 2025 In a bid for sustainability, the cars will feature power units that run on electric power and internal combustion, backed by sustainable fuels. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Adjective
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stood along the back wall of the chamber — appearing somewhat nervous — waiting for his missing colleagues to arrive on the floor. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025 Singh played the front nine 7-over between the first two days — seven bogeys, a double bogey and one birdie — while playing the back 3-under. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • By contrast, people given placebo injections lost around 200 grams.
    Rachel Fieldhouse, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
  • The modern concept of a franchise has been around since the mid 1850s, with the first franchisor believed to have been Isaac Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and the inventor of the sewing machine.
    Fiona Simpson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Her focus on women's health also includes advocating for making tampons and pads more accessible.
    Megan Myscofski, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • This means advocating for ethical AI use while remaining people-centered, ensuring equity in innovation, and designing solutions that reflect cultural nuance and community needs.
    Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The tight supply and inventory conditions in the HBM sector are also aiding pricing.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Today, Aflac is a household name, aided by the now-iconic duck mascot and consistent returns.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The family also played a key role in commemorating the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and V-E Day, further reinforcing its role on both the national and international stage.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The blazer also featured subtle details, including two front patch pockets, long sleeves and a central rear vent.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
  • Glyph Mirror: Use the rear display capture selfies.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adverb
  • Loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film tells the tale of Benjamin Button, who is born with the appearance and strength of an elderly man and ultimately ages backward into infancy.
    Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025
  • The Brief June 26, 2025 Updates on Trump and Netanyahu, NATO, and more Play icon 06:02 Skip backward 15 seconds Length: Long Speed: 1.0x Skip forward 15 seconds TIME AI LogoPowered byScale logo Donald Trump loves to give nicknames.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Last year, the Indonesian political party Golkar created a deepfake of former president Suharto endorsing its candidate.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 28 June 2025
  • Quevedo, who earned 22% of the primary vote, quickly endorsed Tordillos.
    Devan Patel, Mercury News, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • From generating boilerplate code to assisting with architecture diagrams, AI is now part of the daily workflow.
    Sebastian Avila, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Across the country, artificial intelligence tools are changing the teaching profession as educators use them to help write quizzes and worksheets, design lessons, assist with grading and reduce paperwork.
    Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on back

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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