Definition of back-to-backnext
as in consecutive
following one after another without others coming in between the new governor was soon facing several back-to-back crises

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as in together
in succession without others coming in between the three movies in the series were filmed back-to-back so that the cast members wouldn't age visibly on screen

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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-to-back
Adjective
The country is also recovering from devastating back-to-back earthquakes in June that have so far killed over 6,000 people. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Clark became the first player in WNBA history with back-to-back 30-plus-point and 10-plus-assist games. Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Then, for the next 136 years, no other pitcher even got close to having a week like that … until Bryce Miller came along, to become the first pitcher since GVH to lose back-to-back starts by 17-plus. Jayson Stark, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 After back-to-back impressive performances to open the season, the Chaparrals have their sights set on much bigger goals. Jaxin Harkless, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 The installment will be comprised of eight back-to-back episodes featuring locations including a cozy cabin, a festive ice rink, Santa’s workshop and more. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Jones and Chisholm launched back-to-back homers to give Gerrit Cole a 3-0 lead before even throwing a pitch in his latest return home. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Drafted by the Chiefs in 2020, Sneed won back-to-back championships with the club in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before an offseason trade sent him to the Tennessee Titans. Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 The Toreros are coming off of back-to-back eight-win seasons. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back-to-back
Adjective
  • Coach Nick Sirianni needed a new offensive coordinator for the fifth consecutive season after the offense’s regression in 2025 prompted the biggest change of the Sirianni era.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • If the forecast holds, Wednesday would mark the 12th consecutive day with temperatures at or above 90 degrees in the metro area — extending one of the latest 90-degree streaks on record in Kansas City.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • When Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman have played together (while away from both McDavid and Draisaitl), the tandem has delivered a 50 percent goal share in 360 five-on-five minutes.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Suggest a game, make something together, or choose an activity that takes the pressure off the conversation.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • At club level, though, this was a second successive disappointing campaign.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Iranian economy has certainly felt the effects of all the successive restrictions.
    Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Their concentrations then increase at successively higher trophic levels (levels of the food chain) as organisms consume contaminated prey.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Samsung has successively shaved a few millimeters off every year, taking a leap last year with the Z Fold 7.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • She was also sentenced to five years on the weapons charge, to be served concurrently, and seven years for desecration of a human corpse, to be served consecutively to the Wisconsin sentence.
    Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • That included getting Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to strike out consecutively in the third inning.
    Jesús Cano, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • She’s repeatedly called on global leaders to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Floods have repeatedly reshaped cities, destroyed communities, and caused some of the largest death tolls ever recorded from natural disasters.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Back-to-back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back-to-back. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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