1
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
turned back for one last comment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backwards
toward the rear
concert security asked the crowd to move back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
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
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
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
ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
The collaboration is a culmination of a 10-year relationship between Matheson and the culinary brand, which was founded back in 2010.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 June 2025
The three entered the store at 4901 167th St. at 1 p.m., forced the clerk to the back and took money and merchandise, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
The congestion toll began in January — a requirement of New York State’s 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, meant to both reduce congestion and back $15 billion in bonds toward specific MTA projects.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
Then, there’s the landlord who wants the back rent now now now.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
The Mac last received a significant facelift back in 2020 with macOS 11 Big Sur, though this was overshadowed at the time by the much more significant shift from Intel's chips to Apple Silicon.
—ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
The collaboration is a culmination of a 10-year relationship between Matheson and the culinary brand, which was founded back in 2010.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 June 2025
Noun
Bleier gifted the president a Steelers football jersey with the No. 47 and the name Trump on the back.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 June 2025
The three entered the store at 4901 167th St. at 1 p.m., forced the clerk to the back and took money and merchandise, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Verb
The world’s richest man backed Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the 2024 election, shelling out nearly $300 million in a bid to land them in the White House.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
The congestion toll began in January — a requirement of New York State’s 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, meant to both reduce congestion and back $15 billion in bonds toward specific MTA projects.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
Adjective
The Orioles loaded the bases in the eighth before the A’s called on closing pitcher Mason Miller, who struck out back to back batters.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
Then, there’s the landlord who wants the back rent now now now.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Moccasin Creek where he was found has seen high water due to heavy rainfall in the last two weeks, which may have limited Hardin's ability to move around.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
-
Multiple agents then turned Rosario Espinal around, pinning him to the ground before handcuffing him.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
One of the beer cans was allegedly observed wedged between the passenger side rear of the vehicle and the tree at the scene.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
-
The rear of this new trailer puts this concept to work via Airstream's popular hatch, bringing the outdoors in for a breezy lounge experience.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 June 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
-
Experts say that lessons learned from attempts to preserve more challenging, international historical sites on Earth shows there's a critical need to advocate for global cooperation and policy frameworks now — before irreversible damage occurs.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
-
Pope Leo called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages in a May 28 general audience, following in the steps of his predecessor Pope Francis, who was both praised and criticized for using his position to advocate for ending the war in Gaza.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
By the 2030s, the advent of artificial general intelligence (AGI) is anticipated to usher in monumental changes, ranging from aiding in household chores such as cooking and cleaning to transforming our approach to everyday life on a grand scale.—
Sandeep Shivam,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Epstein's former girlfriend and associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced in 2022 for aiding Epstein in the trafficking of minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2025
-
The company’s shares have risen more than 7% this week as Meta’s deal to buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy has reinforced the view that demand is increasing as the tech sector hunts for electricity for its data centers.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Adverb
-
The website published video of Osment, wearing his ski helmet backward, allegedly holding up the line for a ski lift.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
-
Unfortunately, since coming to office, State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke has taken a significant step backward.—
Tom Clark,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
Browne seems to have a soft spot for the 900-foot-high Chenoweth Home Ranch Vineyard; the grapes from here provide a combination of red- and dark-fruit flavors to which Browne attributes a constant sense of movement on the palate.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
1 June 2025
-
Xu is an avid Gold State Warriors basketball fan but has a soft spot for the Chicago Bulls, having spent many years in Illinois.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 May 2025
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share