back

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The part of the human body from the shoulders to the hips on the side opposite the chest.

   Grammar: Usually singular: my back hurts.

   Patterns

   • on your back
   • behind someone's back

   He carried the child on his back.

   She lay on her back and watched the clouds.

   My back aches after gardening.

2. 2nouncountable

   The rear part of something, farthest from the front.

   Grammar: Often with of: the back of the room.

   Patterns

   • the back of something
   • at the back

   We sat at the back of the bus.

   Write your name on the back of the page.

   The garden is at the back of the house.

3. 3adverbnot comparable

   To or toward a place or time that you were in before; in return.

   Grammar: Follows verbs of movement or return: come back.

   Patterns

   • go back
   • come back
   • give something back

   She went back to her hometown.

   Please give the book back tomorrow.

   He called me back an hour later.

4. 4verbtransitive

   To support someone or something, especially with money or approval.

   Grammar: Takes an object: back a plan.

   Patterns

   • back someone
   • back someone up

   Several investors backed the new company.

   I will back you in the meeting.

   The union backed the strike.

5. 5verbtransitive or intransitive

   To move a vehicle or yourself in a reverse direction.

   Grammar: Can take an object (back the car) or not (he backed away).

   Patterns

   • back out of something
   • back away

   He backed the truck into the garage.

   She backed away from the barking dog.

   Back out slowly, please.

Word forms

Common combinations

back pain

Back pain is a common reason for missing work.

come back

Come back soon.

back up

Back up your files.

back a candidate

The newspaper backed the new candidate.

at the back

We sat at the back of the class.

back and forth

She walked back and forth waiting.

Synonyms and how they differ

rear

Rear is a more formal word for the back part of something, especially a vehicle or building.

support

Support is wider and covers any help, while back often means financial or public approval.

return

Return is more formal than go back or come back and fits official situations.

reverse

Reverse is the usual word for driving a vehicle backward, while back is the more general verb.

Opposites

Word family

backward adverb

toward the rear

backer noun

someone who gives support or money

backing noun

support or a material at the rear

backbone noun

the spine, or a main support

background noun

the part of a scene behind the main subject

Commonly confused: back or bag?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “back”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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