back

Meaning

Adj

1. (not-comparable, usually) At or near the rear.
2. (not-comparable, predicative, usually) Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.
3. (not-comparable, usually) Not current.
4. (not-comparable, usually) Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.
5. (not-comparable, usually) In arrears; overdue.
6. (not-comparable, usually) Moving or operating backward.
7. (comparable, not-comparable, usually) 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).

Adv

1. (not-comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.
2. In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
3. In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.
4. Towards, into or in the past.
5. Away from someone or something; at a distance.
6. Away from the front or from an edge.
7. So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.
8. In a manner that impedes.
9. (not-comparable) In a reciprocal manner; in return.
10. (postpositional) Earlier, ago.
11. To a later point in time. See also put back.

Noun

1. The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
2. The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
3. (slang, uncountable) The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
4. (figuratively) The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
5. The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
6. (obsolete) The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
7. That which is farthest away from the front.
8. That which is farthest away from the front.
9. That which is farthest away from the front.
10. That which is farthest away from the front.
11. That which is farthest away from the front.
12. That which is farthest away from the front.
13. That which is farthest away from the front.
14. That which is farthest away from the front.
15. That which is farthest away from the front.
16. (figuratively) The upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.
17. A support or resource in reserve.
18. The keel and keelson of a ship.
19. The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
20. (slang, uncountable) Effort, usually physical.
21. A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
22. Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
23. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of backstroke.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To go in the reverse direction.
2. (transitive) To support.
3. To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
4. To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
5. To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
6. (UK) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
7. (transitive) To push or force backwards.
8. (obsolete, transitive) To get upon the back of; to mount.
9. (obsolete, transitive) To place or seat upon the back.
10. To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
11. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
12. To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
13. To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
14. To row backward with (oars).
15. (Multicultural-London-English, transitive) To draw from behind the back (a knife etc.) (as also back out).
16. (Nigeria, transitive) To carry an infant on one’s back.

Noun

1. 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.
2. A ferryboat.

Synonyms

rear

behind

support

reverse

spine

backbone

backwards

backward

hind

backside

endorse

posterior

again

🔁

after

second

2nd

cover

dorsum

tail

uphold

buttocks

indorse

rearward

ridge

protect

backrest

back up

small of back

sponsor

end

🔚

sustain

derriere

butchery cut

rearwards

reverse side

hinder

buttress

rest

bum

bottom

underpin

stand by

spinal column

prop

ass

🍑

at the back

arse

later

lag

returning

coat

🧥

Translations

dos

🔙

espalda

🔙

Rücken

🔙

derrière

arrière

🔙

zurück

🔙

rug

🔙

dorso

🔙

costas

🔙

schiena

🔙

trasero

🔙

Rückseite

🔙

esquena

🔙

πλάτη

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bæk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bak

Inherited from Old English: bæc

Cognate with Middle Low German: bak

Cognate with Western Frisian: bekling

Cognate with Old High German: bah

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with Norwegian: bak

Cognate with German: Bache

In summary

From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback.
Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).

Sentences

He came back to the window .

Mary told me that she got to meet up with you while she was back in San Francisco .

The gorilla had a beautiful grey back .

During the days of Gulf War , he moved back to Pakistan .

They shouted consolation and promises and went off back to the town again to get help .

One puppy sits on its back legs and another puppy squats .