back
bak
Back (noun) means the rear surface of the human or animal body, from the shoulders to the hips. Example: “He threw his back out lifting the sofa.”
noun
1
The rear surface of the human or animal body, from the shoulders to the hips.
"He threw his back out lifting the sofa."
"The swimmer felt the sun warm her back as she lay on the towel."
"A cat arched its back and stretched on the sofa."
2
The rear or reverse part of an object, as opposed to its front.
"Her name tag was pinned to the back of her jacket."
"The instructions are printed on the back of the box."
"He scribbled a note on the back of an old envelope."
adj
1
Located at or toward the rear.
"We parked in the back lot."
"The kitchen has a back door that opens onto the garden."
"The children in the back seat were singing along to the radio."
adv
1
Toward a previous place, time, or condition.
"Put the milk back in the fridge."
"Can you drive me back to the station?"
"She looked back and waved before turning the corner."
verb
1
To support someone or something, often financially.
"Several investors agreed to back the new startup."
"Local shops promised to back the charity race with free refreshments."
"Will you back me if I ask for a longer break?"
2
To move in a reverse direction.
"She backed the car carefully out of the narrow driveway."
"The lorry backed slowly towards the loading bay while a colleague watched."
"He backed away from the barking dog."
How to use back
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe rear part of the body or an object; also, to support something, or to move in reverse.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb sense "to back someone" (support) with "to back out" (withdraw) — they mean nearly opposite things.
Common pairings
back a candidate
back up
back and forth
at the back
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Word forms
- Plural
- backs
- Third person singular
- backs
- Past tense
- backed
- Comparative
- more back, further back, farther back
- Superlative
- most back, furthest back, farthest back
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He threw his _____ out lifting the sofa.
Etymology
From Old English bæc, of ancient Germanic origin, ultimately possibly related to a root meaning "to bend."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for back
See all rhymes for back →Frequently asked questions
What does “back” mean?
The word “back” means the rear surface of the human or animal body, from the shoulders to the hips. In plain terms, the rear part of the body or an object; also, to support something, or to move in reverse.
How do you pronounce “back”?
“Back” is pronounced bak (/bæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “back” in a sentence?
Here is “back” used in a sentence: “He threw his back out lifting the sofa.”
What is the opposite of “back”?
The opposite of “back” — its antonyms — are front, current, main and veer.
What part of speech is “back”?
Depending on how it is used, “back” can be a noun, an adjective, an adverb and a verb.
Where does the word “back” come from?
The word “back” comes from Old English. From Old English bæc, of ancient Germanic origin, ultimately possibly related to a root meaning "to bend.".
Is “back” a common word?
“Back” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “back” have?
“Back” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the rear surface of the human or animal body, from the shoulders to the hips.
What is the difference between the back and the spine?
The back is the whole rear surface of the body, running from the shoulders down to the hips. The spine, or backbone, is the column of small bones inside the back that supports it. The spine is a structure within the back; the back is the broader region.
What are the parts of the back?
The back is often divided into the upper back around the shoulders and shoulder blades, the middle back, and the lower back, or lumbar region, above the hips. These areas are commonly referred to separately when describing posture, pain, or exercise.
What is the opposite of the back of the body?
The front is the opposite of the back. On the human body, the back is the rear surface from shoulders to hips, while the front includes the chest and stomach. In anatomy the back is sometimes called the dorsal side and the front the ventral side.
What is an example of back used as a noun for the body?
'He hurt his back lifting a heavy box.' Here back names the rear part of the body between the shoulders and hips. Other examples include 'She lay on her back' and 'The child rode on his father's back,' all referring to that body region.
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