Meaning & use

backspace

noun·Everyday

A keyboard key that deletes the character immediately to the left of the cursor.

See it in a sentence

She hit backspace several times to correct the typo in her email.

He held down backspace to erase the entire misspelled paragraph at once.

A note on using this word

Distinct from the 'delete' key on most keyboards, which removes the character to the right of the cursor instead.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To delete text by pressing the backspace key.

He backspaced over the whole sentence and started typing it again.

Make it your own

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