back 1 of 4

adverb

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
as in around
toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backward
toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak How to pronounce back (audio)
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 4

verb

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The crucial pretrial hearing was pushed back as prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over what evidence could be presented and if cameras would be allowed in the courtroom. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Looking back through the sequence, Brazil have good numbers back and there is little need for anyone to overcommit — but a lazy tackle from behind leads to a free kick in a dangerous area. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
With inflation still high and the RAM crisis continuing to drive the cost of PCs, finding easy ways to save on back-to-school tech is crucial. — Courtney Johnston, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026 The cotton overalls have the notable back pocket stitch design and a relaxed fit that emphasizes your shape. — Olivia Dubyak, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Verb
Republican candidates for Congress backed by the GOP establishment were pushed to the limit beginning in the 2010 election cycle and continuing through 2012 and 2014. — David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 Paramount has previously said foreign investors backing the WBD bid will not have board seats or voting shares, and thus CFIUS review is not warranted. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 15 July 2026
Adjective
After seven seasons as the Cubs’ starting shortstop, which included two All-Star selections, Dunston missed most of the 1992 and ’93 seasons after back surgery, then the final 49 games of the 1994 season because of the MLB players strike. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026 Vozinha had made eight saves and his back line proved resilient. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
  1. ago
  2. around
  3. backward
  4. rear
  5. jugular
  6. advocate
  7. aid
  8. reinforce
Adverb
  • Drivers who park at an expired meter now face an $80 citation, up from $50 a few years ago.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Part of the outbreak is unfolding in a major city and humanitarian hub, Goma, that rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda seized over a year ago, further complicating the response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of ago
Adverb
  • Last year, the charity Oxfam noted that G7 countries, which collectively account for around 75% of all official development assistance, were set to slash their aid spending by 28% in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • The relaxed V-neck tank top has a pretty scalloped trim, while the stretchy shorts give you plenty of room to move around.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of around
Adverb
  • An annuity quote starts with a stream of future payments and works backward to determine what those payments are worth today.
    — byDoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
  • Coming out of the All-Star break, the club will be desperate to recover from a disastrous June, in which both its offense and pitching took unexpected steps backward.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of backward
Noun
  • It was stopped towards the rear of the Metro bus, which didn't appear to have any significant damage.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Suspension was double wishbones with coil-over dampers and an anti-roll bar up front; twin trailing arms with double wishbones at the rear.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 July 2026
Definition of rear
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
Definition of jugular
Verb
  • The pastor didn’t suggest endorsing candidates, but instead focusing on issues, like advocating for immigration reform, and using religion as a tool for community organizing.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • With age minimums as leverage, the trust and safety teams within each company can advocate for design changes, like Snapchat’s, that prioritize kids’ well-being and safety over engagement.
    — Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026
Definition of advocate
Verb
  • Christine Reichert, a senior attorney for environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, has been aiding residents across the state in their campaigns against hyperscale data centers in their backyard.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Van Hoytema’s cameras seem to be everywhere at once when Odysseus launches into a visceral clash, aided solely by Telemachus.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of aid
Verb
  • The Athletics have been the worst team in Major League Baseball for nearly two months and reinforced that point Friday night in their first game since the All-Star break.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Reinaldo Dias da Rocha, who is from the same community, said his father had already encouraged him not to hunt sharks, but the project had reinforced the importance of preserving the animals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of reinforce

Phrases Containing back

Browse Nearby Words

baches
back
backache
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on back

Nglish: Translation of back for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All