adv
piggyback
Piggyback (adv) means Carried on someone's back or shoulders. Example: “Dad carried her piggyback all the way home.”
adv
1
Carried on someone's back or shoulders.
"Dad carried her piggyback all the way home."
verb
1
To make use of, or attach to, something that already exists.
"The startup piggybacked on the larger company's delivery network."
How to use piggyback
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRiding on someone's back, or figuratively riding on something else's success or infrastructure.
Common pairings
piggyback ride
piggyback on an idea
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Word forms
- Plural
- piggybacks
- Third person singular
- piggybacks
- Past tense
- piggybacked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Dad carried her _____ all the way home.
Etymology
A reshaping of the older phrase "pick-a-back", itself likely from "pick pack", meaning to carry a pack on one's back.
Synonyms
View more →
pickaback
pig-a-back
Related words
Rhymes for piggyback
See all rhymes for piggyback →Frequently asked questions
What does “piggyback” mean?
The word “piggyback” means carried on someone's back or shoulders. In plain terms, riding on someone's back, or figuratively riding on something else's success or infrastructure.
How do you use “piggyback” in a sentence?
Here is “piggyback” used in a sentence: “Dad carried her piggyback all the way home.”
What part of speech is “piggyback”?
Depending on how it is used, “piggyback” can be an adverb and a verb.
How many meanings does “piggyback” have?
“Piggyback” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: carried on someone's back or shoulders.
