back meaning and definition

BACK noun

Definition of back (noun)

1. the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
   • "his back was nicely tanned"
   • synonyms: dorsum
2. the side that goes last or is not normally seen
   • "he wrote the date on the back of the photograph"
   • synonyms: rear
   • antonym: front
3. the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
   • "he stood at the back of the stage"; "it was hidden in the rear of the store"
   • synonyms: rear
   • antonym: front
4. (football) a person who plays in the backfield
5. the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
   • "the fall broke his back"
   • synonyms: backbone, rachis, spinal column, spine, vertebral column
6. the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
   • "the book had a leather binding"
   • synonyms: binding, book binding, cover
7. the part of a garment that covers the back of your body
   • "they pinned a `kick me' sign on his back"
8. a support that you can lean against while sitting
   • "the back of the dental chair was adjustable"
   • synonyms: backrest
9. (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

BACK verb

Definition of back (verb)

1. be behind; approve of
   • "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960"
   • synonyms: endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
2. travel backward
   • "back into the driveway"; "The car backed up and hit the tree"
3. give support or one's approval to
   • "I'll second that motion"; "I can't back this plan"; "endorse a new project"
   • synonyms: endorse, indorse, second
4. cause to travel backward
   • "back the car into the parking spot"
   • antonym: advance
5. support financial backing for
   • "back this enterprise"
6. be in back of
   • "My garage backs their yard"
   • antonym: face
7. place a bet on
   • "Which horse are you backing?"; "I'm betting on the new horse"
   • synonyms: bet on, gage, game, punt, stake
8. shift to a counterclockwise direction
   • "the wind backed"
   • antonym: veer
9. establish as valid or genuine
   • "Can you back up your claims?"
   • synonyms: back up
10. strengthen by providing with a back or backing

BACK adjective

Definition of back (adjective)

1. related to or located at the back
   • "the back yard"; "the back entrance"
   • antonym: front
2. located at or near the back of an animal
   • "back (or hind) legs"; "the hinder part of a carcass"
   • synonyms: hind, hinder
3. of an earlier date
   • "back issues of the magazine"

BACK adverb

Definition of back (adverb)

1. in or to or toward a former location
   • "she went back to her parents' house"
2. at or to or toward the back or rear
   • "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"
   • synonyms: backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards
   • antonym: forrad
3. in or to or toward an original condition
   • "he went back to sleep"
4. in or to or toward a past time
   • "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"
   • synonyms: backward
   • antonym: ahead
5. in reply
   • "he wrote back three days later"
6. in repayment or retaliation
   • "we paid back everything we had borrowed"; "he hit me and I hit him back"; "I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher"