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
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Plenty of timepiece brands increased their prices, too, in response to those initial tariff figures back in April, according to Hodinkee.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
For a longer journey, Johnson is impartial to his Osprey Aether pack for its airscape back panels, floating lids, and signature Fit on the Fly adjustments.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Ryan Browne, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries say they are united in refusing to back any spending measure that does not include key health care protections and commitments not to roll them back.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
Jesus arrived at Botafogo in July 2024, initially in a back-up role.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
After traveling to a near future for Dog 51, Lellouche’s next role takes him back to World War Two.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
Plenty of timepiece brands increased their prices, too, in response to those initial tariff figures back in April, according to Hodinkee.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
In this example, Palace are building down the left, and Mateta is positioning himself between Villa’s centre-backs, Diego Carlos and Pau Torres, when Tyrick Mitchell plays the ball back to Marc Guehi.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
For a longer journey, Johnson is impartial to his Osprey Aether pack for its airscape back panels, floating lids, and signature Fit on the Fly adjustments.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Balderton has backed a number of notable European tech names including fintech firm Revolut and self-driving vehicle tech developer Wayve.
—Ryan Browne, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries say they are united in refusing to back any spending measure that does not include key health care protections and commitments not to roll them back.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Pauline had an entrance-type gunshot wound to her occipital bone, or the bottom of her skull on the back left side.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 9 Sep. 2025
Jesus arrived at Botafogo in July 2024, initially in a back-up role.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Green Bay opened at home with Detroit, which went 15-2 a year ago and won a second straight NFC North title.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Dockery first saw the film at a cast screening a few months ago.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Bocharov Ruchey, the Russian president's summer residence, is located in the Tsentralny district in the northwest of Sochi, around 17 miles from the international airport.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
For comparison, Kansas City’s temperatures are typically around 82 degrees this time of year.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Heat is vented out the rear, and a new thermal gel solution is used across the core parts.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The front independent suspension uses coil springs and damper struts, with a four-link, coil-spring system at the rear.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
My bullet had penetrated the neck between the jugular and the bone, missing the spine by a fraction.—
Robert Easton,
Outdoor Life,
3 Sep. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Kirk emerged as one of the most pivotal figures in the conservative movement over recent years, co-founding the nonprofit Turning Point USA and becoming an ally to Trump after advocating to mobilize the youth vote for the GOP nominee.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Set two years after the little robot lady went on a murderous rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of AI.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The road to all these riches was aided by CBS’ failure to have the leverage of a backup plan for Romo five years ago.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Another strategy that might be employed by a therapist involves setting up behavioral experiments to aid in reducing AI usage and AI reliance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Scallops are the dainty little detail that never goes out of style, and in fact, reinforces a decor piece’s nostalgic vibe.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Woolen leaped to snag the ball but faded backward while doing so.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The designers experimented by reverting to using a solid case and then moved the keys away from the edges of the keyboard and moved the LEDs backwards.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share