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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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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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
Discovery is bringing the Green Lanterns back with a live-action show. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 13 May 2025 The temporary truce pulls the world's two largest economies back from the brink after trade between them nearly ground to a halt, raising recession risks in the U.S. and deepening deflationary pressures in China. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Noun
The players on the screen: Former New Orleans running backs Alvin Kamara and Darren Sproles. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 May 2025 Players took a knee as a medical cart came out for the fan who was on his back. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
Half of the team had a view of a golf course that backed onto their hotel. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 May 2025 The organization plans to back GLP-1s like Wegovy and Zepbound to treat obesity in adults as part of a shift in addressing the global obesity epidemic, as reported by Reuters. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Adjective
One of the selling points of waterbeds was that sleeping on one helped ease pressure points and could reduce back pain, especially when compared to a traditional mattress. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025 Pizza Alley never reopened, however, and Sargent was later sued by the Colorado Department of Revenue for back taxes. Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • The impact of Canadians turning to homegrown goods could add around 10 billion Canadian dollars to the country’s economy and hike its GDP by around 0.3 percentage points, according to research from Robert Kavcic, director of economics at BMO Capital Markets.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • Firefighters responded to a three-story home on Pliny Street in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood around 8 p.m., according to the Hartford Fire Department.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Love clipped the rear of Zilisch's No.88 Chevrolet, causing the 18-year-old to spin and collide head-on into the barriers.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • King got a boost toward possibly finishing six innings when Machado made a fantastic play on a grounder by Willy Adames, diving into the hole to grab the ball and, from his rear, throwing out Yastrzemski at second.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 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
  • With the third installment of the Knives Out franchise premiering this year, Rian Johnson is advocating for a theater-going experience.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 May 2025
  • Beyond animation’s inclusion in the program, animation stakeholders have additionally been advocating for enhancements like a decrease in the $1 million minimum budget for eligible projects in a bid to include children’s programming, which tends to operate with smaller budgets than adult animation.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • On Monday, a federal judge declined to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing some kinds of immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to aid deportation efforts.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 13 May 2025
  • The organizers of last year’s campus protests have said their goals were to convince university leaders to divest endowments of connections to weapons companies aiding Israel’s war efforts.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • When financial literacy and empowerment are neglected, wealth-building opportunities slip through the cracks, reinforcing the cycle of instability.
    Shay Levister, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Rising protectionism fueled by a populist backlash to globalization, a post-pandemic push for economic security reinforced by the shock of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and, above all, intensifying U.S.-Chinese strategic rivalry converged to shatter the illusion of a global tech ecosystem.
    Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025
Adverb
  • After letting go of the ball, Vásquez tripped and tried to steady himself over the course of many steps backward before giving in and somersaulting backward in the grass in foul territory.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025
  • The bear was inches away when Nelson fell backward, uphill.
    Benjamin Alva Polley, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Plus, Rachael has a soft spot for missing children.
    Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2025
  • Independent study charter schools are a soft spot in California’s vaccine laws, data show — Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
    Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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