back 1 of 4

Definition of backnext
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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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 French are betting audiences want their epics back. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 As well as new microdramas on the service, Cooper is also premiering docuseries Before The Steps in spring 2027, which will pull back the curtain in the months leading up to the Met Gala. Peter White, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Noun
But the idea at the heart of Curry Barker’s new horror film, Obsession, has an endearingly adolescent, back-to-basics simplicity. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 May 2026 On the spring runways at Loewe, Prada and Chanel, the styling stayed intentionally pared-back, letting the skirt take center stage. Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Verb
Two incidents in January involved reversing errors, including backing into a wooden utility pole and hitting a curb while parking. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026 The group is backed by the German-language distributor X Verleih and TrustNordisk, which has boarded as their international sales agent. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
Adjective
Harris found the net in the 70th minute when Garcia battled for possession at midfield and found Harris, whose shot nestled inside the back pos for a 3-0 lead. Daily News, 14 May 2026 The back half is comprised of less showy songs that fold midlife introspection into broader concerns. Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • Khin Khin, resident of Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon and mother of two sons, said her daily costs have doubled from a year ago.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
  • The luxury residential club community has its roots in a cherished getaway that attracted local families to the shores of the Oconee River a century ago.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
Adverb
  • The man continued moving around inside the fountain even as police ordered him to get out, according to the outlet.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • The house is around two miles from the Islamic Center, which is in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
Adverb
  • In other words, this is basically a demonic-possession story, albeit one without any actual demons; at one point, Nikki briefly starts moving backward for no reason.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • All else being equal, the chance of tunneling forward is the same as tunneling backward because the overlap between the modes is symmetrical.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The motorcycle struck the rear of the trailer, ejecting the driver completely off the motorcycle, according to the crash log.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
  • The collection is branded with Roxy and Juicy Couture’s iconic logos, etched in the heart and the rear.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Anyone familiar with a roast expects the comedians to go for the jugular, but when someone with actual grooming allegations gets called a pedophile, one questions whether the punchline really was meant to be a joke.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
  • Wolf packs on the hunt encircled their prey—typically elk—clamping at the jugular when their target grew weary from the chase.
    Nidhi Sharma, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In Texas, advocates for transgender rights said the settlement with Texas Children’s sets a troubling precedent.
    Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 16 May 2026
  • Three contenders for the Republican nomination are advocating for even more aggressive tax relief while oil prices are riding high.
    Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • During this time, circus families blossomed all over Mexico, aided by the appearance of the steamship and railway systems, as the circus historian Julio Revolledo Cárdenas would detail in a 2018 article for the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
  • Additionally, this decision meant Microsoft could not be held liable for allegedly aiding and abetting OpenAI.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.
    Shianne LeClaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • The device has been deployed in the marine testing area of BiMEP, located off the coast of Bizkaia, reinforcing the role of this infrastructure for testing and research of marine energy technologies in Europe.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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