1
2
3
as in backward
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
Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
General Daily Insight for February 11, 2026 Stitching our confidence back together is possible today.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Grint admits that this recent shift towards genre may well a subconscious a push-back against his most high-profile role.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Sarah Davis, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed the proposal (SB 694) after $4 million was added to the measure that seeks to compensate the families of Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin.
—News Service Of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Archaeologists have traced the cultivation of the date palm—also known as Phoenix dactylifera—back millennia.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
The top featured a high neck with a keyhole neckline, flared long sleeves, a cape overlay, which creates a lightly exposed back.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
General Daily Insight for February 11, 2026 Stitching our confidence back together is possible today.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Dreher spends much of his time with monks, back-to-the-land theologians, and exorcists.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Grint admits that this recent shift towards genre may well a subconscious a push-back against his most high-profile role.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Henry, a former running back for the Buffalo Bills, pleaded guilty in 2009 for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and was sentenced to three years in prison for financially backing a drug ring.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed the proposal (SB 694) after $4 million was added to the measure that seeks to compensate the families of Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin.
—News Service Of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The visit concluded with Catherine sewing a back pocket onto a pair of the brand’s men’s Hack jeans as a gift for the Prince of Wales.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Archaeologists have traced the cultivation of the date palm—also known as Phoenix dactylifera—back millennia.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Nanos, the sheriff, stopped giving press conferences days ago.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
While bird flu is still affecting the industry, the scale of disruption is far smaller than a year ago, allowing production to recover.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Back then, the district would hire teachers in the first semester and wait to see how students moved around before extending their contracts to a full year.—
Carley Lanich,
IndyStar,
10 Feb. 2026
-
While the mouse brain contains about 100 million cells, the human brain has around 170 billion, and that menagerie is still undergoing genetic analysis.—
Amber Dance,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
That said, too many Republicans in Austin are focused on hyper-partisan and social issues that take our state backwards and come at the expense of the serious issues the Legislature should focus on.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Yep, the extra-long float representing Prince’s pop brings up the rear of the nightly parade again.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Video surveillance of Bickford’s showed that Healey exited the facility through an employee entrance at the rear of the building.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some philosophers and activists advocate for pet abolition, arguing that treating any animals as property is ethically indefensible.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Early birds insist a morning cardio burst is superior, while night owls may advocate for a nighttime strength training session.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The tool largely works to integrate a dealerships specific needs into its system and create AI agents that complete tasks to aid the employees.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Hoda Kotb returned to the Today show, filling in this morning for Savannah Guthrie as the anchor continues to aid the search for her mother, Nancy, who was allegedly kidnapped.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By the Middle Ages, people in France and England believed birds began mating around that time of year, reinforcing the connection to romance.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
-
More off days for Altuve is another possibility — one that could be reinforced if the Astros do carry their current infield surplus into the season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
14 Feb. 2026
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 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
