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
This was a month for big festivals, with two weekends of Coachella and one of Stagecoach all back to back out in Indio, Calif., and of just-as-big tour kickoffs, with both our Greatest Pop Star of 2024 and our Greatest Pop Star of the entire 21st Century launching their most recent treks. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 1 May 2025 Furniture and decorations interspersed throughout the space — doilies, laminated wood cabinets and plastic chairs — evoke the sensation of traveling back in time. Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
Approaching the final whistle, however, Ferran Torres equalized thanks to an inch-perfect Lamine Yamal ball over the top of the Madrid back line. Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 The back story on Toxic Freedom The business was birthed out of a love for family and living well. Tina Harbuck, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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
Sports bras that are too restrictive could overwork back muscles and limit breathing. Julia Ries, Health, 1 May 2025 There's even a back flap for holding you climbing helmet. Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 1 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
  • The unidentified Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy was fatally struck around 1 p.m. near the university, which was hosting a graduation ceremony.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 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
  • Trades like those are not surprising to lawmakers advocating for the ban.
    Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 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
  • This event united golfers, sponsors, donors, vendors and volunteers to aid families facing financial and emotional hardships caring for a critically ill child — some of which include homelessness, hunger and depression.
    Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 1 May 2025
  • Nearly every element of the federal student aid system, from grants to aid disbursement to repayment plans and loan forgiveness programs, would be impacted if the plan is enacted.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Roll a 6-foot-long piece of hog wire or concrete reinforcing wire into a 2-foot-diameter tomato cage.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2025
  • It was reinforced in 2022 by the California Air Resources Board, and copied by 11 other states: New York, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware and Maryland.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Adverb
  • Its initial genesis is not totally clear—but one prominent theory suggests that bits of endometrium (the inside lining of the uterus) shed during menstruation can flow backward through the fallopian tubes and leak into the pelvis.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Here, a lot of information is being thrown at solvers at once: [Verb that sounds like a number … and is a letter backward].
    Deb Amlen, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Neal McDonough has played some of TV’s toughest characters, but his soft spot is his wife of over 20 years, Ruvé McDonough.
    Jane LaCroix, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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