back 1 of 4

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

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2
3

back

2 of 4

noun

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

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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

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back

3 of 4

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 4

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Mike Judge has brought the series back twice, first in 2011 and again in 2022. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 Plus, the service lost subscribers last quarter—a show people are excited about could lure back some whose bundles expired. Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
The sport doesn’t necessarily build muscle strength directly, but Brown said tennis can help with muscle endurance, specifically in the core, legs, shoulders, and upper back. Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025 Valdez turned his back to the plate and paused as Salazar and Volpe stared at him. CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Partisan voters were unsurprisingly divided on the issue, with 51% of Republicans backing federal intervention and 78% of Democrats opposing the idea. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025 Just as in Season 1, Season 2 contains needle drops from artists like Gracie Abrams, Teddy Swims, Jelly Roll and more to back poignant moments. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The platform gives a little lift without sacrificing comfort, and the back strap means no sliding or blisters. Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025 However, back injuries can be very persistent and stubborn. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • A couple of years ago, Collingwood claimed the ‘Velcro-handed’ Jordan was the best he’s ever seen.
    James Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Somebody did it a long time ago, many, many decades ago.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • With median download speeds around 251 Mbps, Virginia households benefit from a mix of cable, fiber, wireless and satellite providers, though availability varies by location.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • There was a lot to learn from that outing and Bergert made some key changes his second time around.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Lauren Kemp, of Concord, was driving the Honda HR-V that struck the rear of the Ford Bronco that Giuliani, 81, was travelling in on Saturday evening, New Hampshire State Police said in a statement on Sunday.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Bringing up the rear of summer harvests, pole beans are a beloved part of Appalachian and Southern cuisines for their heartiness and simplicity.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • When Kerrville Pets Alive put out a post advocating for a service dog named Callie, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
    TJ Macias September 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Along with those advocating for workers' rights, matters regarding immigration raids and the federal takeover were key topics at the city's Labor Day protests.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ollie Watkins is another player Howe likes, but Newcastle have already aided Villa’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) position by signing Ramsey and are unlikely to want to further help a direct rival, especially given the England striker’s likely cost at 29 years old.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • New Zealand Police later named Phillips as the suspect, and said he was aided by a female accomplice.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • These forms of intimacy between a couple reinforce one another; sharing their emotions with one another will enhance physical closeness in turn, and vice versa.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • One option is SmackDown’s newest acquisition Sami Zayn, but with Zayn winning the United States Championship last week, a title previously held by Paul, that would be a step backward for him.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • That Boone went from bending that far over backwards for Volpe to benching him two days later is good for laughs, if nothing else.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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