back 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of backnext
1
as in ago
earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backward
toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak How to pronounce back (audio)
1
as in rear
a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

back

3 of 4

verb

1
as in to advocate
to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back
Adverb
That was the lowest in the financial research firm’s records, which go all the way back to 2004, and also just under the prior record low of 302 buyers in the third quarter of 2024. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 The high-stick caused Marchand to twist around and collide with the right post before his left leg bent back in an awkward way. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
That’s why his five fellow umpires made a point of patting him on the back or shoulder before jogging to their positions for the first pitch. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026 The running back group helped the Jayhawks gain a school record 706 yards. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
Annie Agle, the company’s vice president of impact and sustainability, said the luggage is also backed by Cotopaxi’s Guaranteed for Good policy because a lifetime warranty has become table stakes in the outdoor and adventure-travel industry. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 In August, OpenAI also backed a California law requiring AI companies to publish a public safety framework and a plan for mitigating catastrophic risks, as well as to report any loss of control of an AI model. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Adjective
A couple possessions later, Maiava launched a prayer down the field off his back foot. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 The jeans provide extra lift and support through the front and back waist while maintaining the volume of the lower legs. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
  1. ago
  2. around
  3. backward
  4. rear
  5. jugular
  6. advocate
  7. aid
  8. reinforce
Adverb
  • That changed two weeks ago, when one death was finally counted, and again last week when a second was added to the agency's tally.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Having undergone a $100 million renovation a few years ago, this property now showcases modern furniture, beautiful artwork, and Hawaiian decor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ago
Adverb
  • Back on the boat, Joe and Nathan joke around in the crew mess.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The neighborhood/area While Southall is just four miles from historic downtown Franklin, it is designed to feel like there’s nothing else around.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of around
Adverb
  • The real winners are focused on whether the tools are actually improving business outcomes, starting with the customer and working backwards to identify where the tech can make the biggest impact.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The officer stops at the pillar between the car’s windows, such that the driver must crane their neck backward to make eye contact and could only open fire awkwardly.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of backward
Noun
  • The standout among the entertaining spaces is the baby-blue kitchen, which extends from the rear of the home into a rounded turret overlooking a ravine.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Suspension is taken care of by 43-mm upside-down forks with adjustable rebound and compression damping, and an adjustable central spring strut at the rear.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of rear
Noun
  • Becerra goes for the jugular against Hilton by invoking Huntington Beach!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Even Rodrigo, the almost too-good student who should make a mess someday, went total sprite, toying with everyone’s jugular.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of jugular
Verb
  • Rather than pursuing technological isolationism, Koerte advocates greater collaboration across borders.
    — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Dodd also continued to advocate for independence for the Baltic States.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of advocate
Verb
  • Wearable sensors could aid therapy The researchers envision garments that let users control video game characters or operate robots remotely.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Lawyers for victims’ relatives claim that a group of extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia aided the hijackers.
    — Tom Winter, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of aid
Verb
  • The experience reinforced her belief that Vancouver has plenty of animation talent, but still needs more infrastructure for independent creators.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Its amino-acid complex helps smooth and strengthen strands from the inside out, while amaranth extract reinforces fragile hair and baobab extract helps improve elasticity and bounce.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of reinforce

Phrases Containing back

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baches
back
backache
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Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on back

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about back

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