outback
OWT-bak
Outback (noun) means Australia's vast, sparsely populated interior, much of it arid desert far from major cities. Example: “They drove for hours through the outback without seeing another car.”
noun
1
Australia's vast, sparsely populated interior, much of it arid desert far from major cities.
"They drove for hours through the outback without seeing another car."
"Life in the outback means dealing with extreme heat and isolation."
How to use outback
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAustralia's remote, rugged interior country.
Common pairings
the Australian outback
outback towns
trek through the outback
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Word forms
- Plural
- outbacks
- Third person singular
- outbacks
- Past tense
- outbacked
- Comparative
- more outback
- Superlative
- most outback
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They drove for hours through the _____ without seeing another car.
Etymology
Formed simply from "out" plus "back," describing land far back from settled coastal areas.
Frequently asked questions
What does “outback” mean?
The word “outback” means australia's vast, sparsely populated interior, much of it arid desert far from major cities. In plain terms, australia's remote, rugged interior country.
How do you pronounce “outback”?
“Outback” is pronounced OWT-bak (/ˈaʊtbæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “outback” in a sentence?
Here is “outback” used in a sentence: “They drove for hours through the outback without seeing another car.”
What part of speech is “outback”?
“Outback” is a noun.
Is “outback” a common word?
“Outback” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
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