noun

back

bak

noun

The rear surface of the human or animal body, from the shoulders to the hips.

"He threw his back out lifting the sofa."

The rear or reverse part of an object, as opposed to its front.

"Her name tag was pinned to the back of her jacket."

adj

Located at or toward the rear.

"We parked in the back lot."

adv

Toward a previous place, time, or condition.

"Put the milk back in the fridge."

"Can you drive me back to the station?"

verb

To support someone or something, often financially.

"Several investors agreed to back the new startup."

To move in a reverse direction.

"She backed the car carefully out of the narrow driveway."

How to Use Back

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

more back comparative, further back comparative, farther back comparative, backed past tense, backs plural, backs singular, most back superlative, furthest back superlative, farthest back superlative

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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."

Antonyms

front current main veer

Related Words

current very former by power old obsolete front

Rhymes for back

ACK jack hack tack wack pack sack rack lack Mack Zack aback

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front current main veer very former by power old obsolete