Back Definition

băk
backed, backing, backs
noun
backs
The part of the body opposite to the front; in humans and many other animals, the part to the rear or top reaching from the nape of the neck to the end of the spine.
Webster's New World
The backbone or spine.
Webster's New World
The part of a chair that supports one's back.
Webster's New World
The part or area farthest from the front.
American Heritage
The part of a garment or harness that fits on the back of a person or animal.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
backed, backing, backs
To cause to move backward or in a reverse direction.
Back the car up and then make the turn.
American Heritage
To cause to move backward, or to the rear.
Webster's New World
To move or go backward.
To back into a room.
Webster's New World
To furnish or strengthen with a back or backing.
American Heritage
To be at the back of; stand behind.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
adjective
Located or placed in the rear.
Deliveries should be made at the back entrance.
American Heritage
At the rear or back; behind.
Webster's New World
Distant from a center of activity; remote.
American Heritage
Distant or remote.
Back country.
Webster's New World
Of a past date; not current.
A back issue of a periodical.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
adverb
At, to, or toward the rear or back.
American Heritage
At, to, or toward the rear; backward.
Webster's New World
In, to, or toward a former location.
Went back for the class reunion.
American Heritage
To or toward a former position or location.
Webster's New World
In, to, or toward a former condition.
When the spell broke, the prince turned back into a frog.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
prefix
See back.
Wiktionary

Situated, located, or toward the rear; backward or in reverse; in return; again.

Wiktionary

(UK) False; pseudo-.

Backfriend.
Wiktionary
idiom
back and fill
  • To maneuver a vessel in a narrow channel by adjusting the sails so as to let the wind in and out of them in alteration.
  • To vacillate in one's actions or decisions.
American Heritage
back to back
  • Consecutively and without interruption:

    presented three speeches back to back.

American Heritage
behind (one's) back
  • In one's absence or without one's knowledge.
American Heritage
have got (someone's) back
  • To be prepared or ready to support or vouch for someone, as in a crisis.
American Heritage
have (one's) back up
  • To be angry or irritated.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Back

Noun

Singular:
back
Plural:
backs

Origin of Back

  • Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-Germanic *baką (cf. Old Saxon bak (Middle Low German bak (“back”)), West Frisian bekling 'chair back', Old High German bah, Swedish bak), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰogo 'bending'. The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback.

    From Wiktionary

  • Dutch bak from French bac from Old French boat from Vulgar Latin baccus vessel probably of Celtic origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English bak-, bac-, apheretic form of abak, aback (“aback”, adv). More at aback.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English bak from Old English bæc

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • French bac.

    From Wiktionary

Back Sentence Examples

  • Do you have to go back right away?

  • It was a long time back, before they were married.

  • I'm going back home.

  • Finally she drew back, breathless.

  • Turning the truck around, he headed back down the drive.

More Sentences

Related Articles

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to back using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

BBABAC

Words Ending With

KCKACK

Unscrambles

back

Words Starting With B and Ending With K

Starts With B & Ends With KStarts With BA & Ends With KStarts With B & Ends With CK

Word Length

4 Letter Words4 Letter Words Starting With B4 Letter Words Ending With K