back

Plural: backs

Noun

• the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
  • "his back was nicely tanned"
• the side that goes last or is not normally seen
  • "he wrote the date on the back of the photograph"
• the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
  • "he stood at the back of the stage"
• (football) a person who plays in the backfield
• the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
  • "the fall broke his back"
• the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
• the part of a garment that covers the back of your body
  • "they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back"
• a support that you can lean against while sitting
  • "the back of the dental chair was adjustable"
• (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• The spine and associated tissues.
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• Large and attractive buttocks.
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.
• The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
• That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
• The edge of a book which is bound.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
• The inside margin of a page.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
• The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• Area behind, such as the backyard of a house or the rear storeroom of a retail store.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• The part of something that goes last.
• That which is farthest away from the front.
• In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
• The upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.
• A support or resource in reserve.
• The keel and keelson of a ship.
• The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
• Effort, usually physical.
• A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
• Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
• Clipping of backstroke.
• A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
• A ferryboat.

Verb

Verb Forms: backed, backing, backs

• To give support to someone or something.
• be behind; approve of
  • "I backed Kennedy in 1960"
• travel backward
  • "back into the driveway"
  • "The car backed up and hit the tree"
• give support or one's approval to
  • "I can't back this plan"
• cause to travel backward
  • "back the car into the parking spot"
• support financial backing for
  • "back this enterprise"
• be in back of
  • "My garage backs their yard"
• place a bet on
  • "Which horse are you backing?"
• shift to a counterclockwise direction
  • "the wind backed"
• establish as valid or genuine
  • "Can you back up your claims?"
• strengthen by providing with a back or backing
• To go in the reverse direction.
• To support.
• To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
• To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
• To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
• To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
• To push or force backwards.
• To get upon the back of; to mount.
• To place or seat upon the back.
• To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
• To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
• To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
• To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
• To row backward with (oars).
• To draw from behind the back (a knife etc.) (as also back out).
• To carry an infant on one’s back.

Adjective

• related to or located at the back
  • "the back yard"
  • "the back entrance"

Adjective Satellite

• located at or near the back of an animal
  • "back (or hind) legs"
• of an earlier date
  • "back issues of the magazine"

Adverb

• in or to or toward a former location
  • "she went back to her parents' house"
• at or to or toward the back or rear
  • "he moved back"
  • "tripped when he stepped backward"
• in or to or toward an original condition
  • "he went back to sleep"
• in or to or toward a past time
  • "set the clocks back an hour"
  • "never look back"
  • "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"
• in reply
  • "he wrote back three days later"
• in repayment or retaliation
  • "we paid back everything we had borrowed"
  • "he hit me and I hit him back"
  • "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher"

Adj

• At or near the rear.
• Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.
• Not current.
• Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.
• In arrears; overdue.
• Moving or operating backward.
• Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

Adv

• To or in a previous condition or place.
• In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
• In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.
• Towards, into or in the past.
• Away from someone or something; at a distance.
• Away from the front or from an edge.
• So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.
• In a manner that impedes.
• In a reciprocal manner; in return.
• Earlier, ago.
• To a later point in time. See also put back.

Examples

• Are you sure you're totally out of hair gel? Could you please check in the back?
• back action
• Can you fix the back of this chair?
• Clear back all this vegetation.
• Could I get a martini with a water back?
• Could you please scratch my back?
• Don’t forget to put the clocks back by one hour tonight!
• Draw back the curtains and let in some light.
• Everything was simpler back in the old days.
• Fear held him back.
• Go in the back door of the house.
• He built a time machine and travelled back to 1800.
• He gave back the money.
• He lives out in the back country.
• He sat in the back of the room.
• He was on vacation, but now he’s back.
• Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.
• I back you all the way.
• I hung the clothes on the back of the door.
• I hurt my back lifting those crates.
• I last saw him a day or two back.
• I left my mobile phone back at the hotel. I’ll have to go back and get it.
• I still need to finish the back of your dress.
• If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.
• It's OK that the highway is jammed, because I know a back way. It's another good way to get there.
• I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.
• I’ll back your risky play if you think it can win the game.
• Keep back! It could explode at any moment!
• Put some back into it!
• Sit all the way back in your chair.
• Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.
• Step back from the curb.
• Tap it with the back of your knife.
• The backs were lined up in an I formation.
• The car was near the back of the train.
• The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.
• The horse refuses to back.
• The light bounces back off the mirror.
• The meeting has been moved back an hour. It was at 3 o’clock; now it's at 4 o’clock.
• The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.
• The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.
• The ship’s back broke in the pounding surf.
• The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
• The titles are printed on the backs of the books.
• The train backed into the station.
• The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.
• These records go back years.
• They still owe three months’ back rent.
• They took a back road.
• Think back to how you felt last year.
• This mishap has set the project back considerably.
• This tree is dying back.
• to back a letter;  to back a note or legal document
• to back books
• to back oxen
• to back the oars
• Turn the book over and look at the back.
• We met many years back.
• We’ll meet out in the back of the library.
• Which horse are you backing in this race?
• Wind the film back a few frames.

Synonyms

back up, backbone, backrest, backward, backwards, bet on, binding, book binding, cover, dorsum, endorse, gage, game, hind, hinder, indorse, plump for, plunk for, punt, rachis, rear, rearward, rearwards, second, spinal column, spine, stake, support, vertebral column, former, previous, reverse

Antonyms

advance, ahead, forward, front, veer, current, main

Related Words

back vowel, bacon

Anagrams of back