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Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   At or near the rear.

   • Go in the back door of the house.
2. 2

   Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.

   • He was on vacation, but now he’s back.
   • The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.
3. 3

   Not current.

   • I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.
4. ›+ 45 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.

      • They took a back road.
      • He lives out in the back country.
      • It's OK that the highway is jammed, because I know a back way. It's another good way to get there.
   2. 5

      In arrears

      In arrears; overdue.

      • They still owe three months’ back rent.
      • Several of the former Hotel York workers have filed with the California Labor Division to collect what they feel is owed them in the way of back overtime.
   3. 6

      Moving or operating backward.

      • back action
   4. 7

      Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth,…

      Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).

      • The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.
   5. 8

      To or in a previous condition or place.

      • He gave back the money.
      • I left my mobile phone back at the hotel. I’ll have to go back and get it.
   6. 9

      In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally…

      In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.

      • Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.
      • The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.
      • Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.
   7. 10

      In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress,…

      In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.

      • Wind the film back a few frames.
      • Don’t forget to put the clocks back by one hour tonight!
      • This mishap has set the project back considerably.
   8. 11

      Towards, into or in the past.

      • These records go back years.
      • He built a time machine and travelled back to 1800.
      • Think back to how you felt last year.
   9. 12

      Away from someone or something

      Away from someone or something; at a distance.

      • Keep back! It could explode at any moment!
   10. 13

       Away from the front or from an edge.

       • Sit all the way back in your chair.
       • Step back from the curb.
   11. 14

       So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.

       • This tree is dying back.
       • Clear back all this vegetation.
       • Draw back the curtains and let in some light.
   12. 15

       In a manner that impedes.

       • Fear held him back.
   13. 16

       In a reciprocal manner

       In a reciprocal manner; in return.

       • If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.
       • The light bounces back off the mirror.
   14. 17

       Earlier, ago.

       • We met many years back.
       • I last saw him a day or two back.
       • Our road was chiefly through woods, and part of it lay through the Hurricane-track, that is where a strong wind, some years back, opened a passage through the woods for a mile in breadth...
   15. 18

       To a later point in time. See also put back.

       • The meeting has been moved back an hour. It was at 3 o’clock; now it's at 4 o’clock.
   16. 19

       The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and…

       The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.

       • Could you please scratch my back?
   17. 20

       That which is farthest away from the front.

       • He sat in the back of the room.
   18. 21

       The upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.

       • The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
   19. 22

       A support or resource in reserve.

       • This project / Should have a back or second, that might hold, / If this should blast in proof.
   20. 23

       The keel and keelson of a ship.

       • The ship’s back broke in the pounding surf.
   21. 24

       The roof of a horizontal underground passage.

       • The stope is kept full of broken ore, sufficient only being drawn to leave a working space between the floor of broken ore and the back of the stope.
   22. 25

       Effort, usually physical.

       • Put some back into it!
   23. 26

       A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.

       • Could I get a martini with a water back?
   24. 27

       Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.

       • […]as delivered by a tanner the average weight of a back and two strips would be about 42 pounds[…].
   25. 28

       Clipping of backstroke.

   26. 29

       To go in the reverse direction.

       • The train backed into the station.
       • The horse refuses to back.
   27. 30

       To support.

       • I back you all the way.
       • Which horse are you backing in this race?
       • And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes
   28. 31

       To change direction contrary to the normal pattern

       To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

   29. 32

       To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.

   30. 33

       To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.

   31. 34

       To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.

   32. 35

       To push or force backwards.

       • to back oxen
       • The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.
       • The soil seems to be very good; the creek runs through the reserve, and has a dam thrown across it, which backs the water for a very considerable distance, and enables them to irrigate a portion of their cultivation block.
   33. 36

       To get upon the back of

       To get upon the back of; to mount.

       • I will back him [a horse] straight.
       • The horse was the grey stallion he aye rode, the very beast he had ridden for many a wager with the wild lads of the Cross Keys. No man but himself durst back it, and it had lamed many a hostler lad and broke two necks in its day.
   34. 37

       To place or seat upon the back.

       • Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, / Appeared to me.
   35. 38

       To make a back for

       To make a back for; to furnish with a back.

       • to back books
   36. 39

       To adjoin behind

       To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.

       • He hath a garden circummured with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard backed
       • the chalk cliffs which back the beach
   37. 40

       To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.

       • to back a letter;  to back a note or legal document
   38. 41

       To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).

   39. 42

       To row backward with (oars).

       • to back the oars
   40. 43

       To draw from behind the back (a knife etc.) (as also back out).

       • Sticks and Stones may break my bones Not when I back this botty
       • When I back this blade, wallahi The hearts get beat like they just saw jihadi
   41. 44

       To carry an infant on one’s back.

   42. 45

       A large shallow vat

       A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.

   43. 46

       A ferryboat.

   44. 47

       A surname.

   45. 48

       A settlement on the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref…

       A settlement on the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NB4840).

The neighborhood

• synonymreverseside opposite the visible side
• synonymdorsumrear of the body
• antonymfrontantonym(s) of “near the rear, phonetics”
• antonymcurrentantonym(s) of “not current”
• antonymmainantonym(s) of “away from the main area”
• antonymveerantonym(s) of
• neighborback vowel
• neighborbacon
• neighborbuttockslower rear of the body