back burner

noun

: the condition of being out of active consideration or development
usually used in the phrase on the back burner
back-burner transitive verb

Examples of back burner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With the debate and coverage surrounding the Big Beautiful Bill that has continued its bruising journey through both houses of Congress dominating business headlines and media coverage, crypto investors might feel that issues pertaining to the sector have been relegated to the back burner. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025 While the restaurant was supposed to open years ago, Grant said the project was put on the back burner after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 9 July 2025 Crown had already begun leasing space in the Foundry building for another project but pivoted late last summer to showcase a menu that chef and co-owner Anthony Sitek had on the back burner. Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025 And when the calls for annexing Canada, Greenland, and Panama produced strong resistance and victories for anti-Trump parties, those issues were shoved to the back burner, as were U.S. plans to take over Gaza, expelling the Palestinians and building a beach resort there. Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for back burner

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back burner was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Back burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20burner. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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