Meaning of “back” in the English Dictionary

English
Contents

"back" in English

See all translations

backadverb

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​ /bæk/

back adverb (RETURN)

B2 in, into, or towards a previous place or condition, or an earlier time:

When you take the scissors, remember to put them back.
He left a note saying "Gone out. Back soon."
She went to Brazil for two years, but now she's back (= has returned).
He looked back (= looked behind him) and saw they were following him.
Looking at her old photographs brought back (= made her remember) a lot of memories.
I was woken by a thunderstorm, and I couldn't get back to sleep (= could not sleep again).
The last time we saw Lowell was back (= at an earlier time) in January.
This tradition dates back to (= to the earlier time of) the 16th century.

A2 in return:

If he hits me, I'll hit him back.
You're not just going to let her say those things about you without fighting back, are you?

A2 in reply:

I'm busy at the moment - can I call you back?
I wrote to Donna several months ago, but she hasn't written back yet.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

back adverb (FURTHER AWAY)

B2 further away in distance:

If we push the table back against the wall, we'll have more room.
"Keep back!" he shouted, "Don't come any closer!"
He sat back on the sofa.
She threw back her head and laughed uproariously.
The house is set back from the street.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

BackBack is an adverb, noun, adjective or verb. …
Back as an adverb[taking a photograph] …
Back as a noun …
Back as an adjective …
Back as a verb[talking about a pet dog] …

Idiom(s)

back and forth
back in the day
back to square one

backnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​ /bæk/

back noun [ C ] (FURTHEST PART)

A2 the inside or outside part of an object, vehicle, building, etc. that is furthest from the front:

He jotted her name down on the back of an envelope.
I found my tennis racket at the back of the cupboard.
We sat at the back of the bus.
Our seats were right at the back of the auditorium.
Ted was out/round the back (= in the area behind the house)."
There is a beautiful garden at the back of (= behind) the house.
If there's no reply at the front door, come round the back.
He put his jacket on the back of his chair (= the part of the chair that you put your back against when you sit on it).
back to back

› close together and facing in opposite directions:

The office was full of computers, and we had to sit back to back in long rows.

› happening one after another, without interruption:

Coming up after the break, three Rolling Stones classics back to back.
See also
back-to-back
back to front C2 UK US backwards

› with the back part of something where the front should be:

You've put your jumper on back to front.
the back of your hand

› the side of your hand that has hair growing on it

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

back noun [ C ] (BODY PART)

A2 the part of your body that is opposite to the front, from your shoulders to your bottom:

I have a bad back.
Sleeping on a bed that is too soft can be bad for your back.
He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
I turned my back (= turned around so that I could not see) while she dressed.
She put her back out (= caused a serious injury to her back) lifting a box.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

BackBack is an adverb, noun, adjective or verb. …
Back as an adverb[taking a photograph] …
Back as a noun …
Back as an adjective …
Back as a verb[talking about a pet dog] …

Idiom(s)

at/in the back of your mind
the back of beyond
in back of
be on sb's back
behind sb's back
sb could do sth with one arm/hand tied behind his/her back
get off sb's back
have (got) sb's back
have your back to/against the wall
on the back of sth
on the back of sb/sth
put/get sb's back up

backverb

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​ /bæk/

back verb (SUPPORT)

C2 [ T ] to give support to someone or something with money or words:

The management has refused to back our proposals.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

back verb (COVER)

› [ T ] to cover the back of something with a material, often to make it stronger or thicker:

The material is backed with a heavy lining.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

BackBack is an adverb, noun, adjective or verb. …
Back as an adverb[taking a photograph] …
Back as a noun …
Back as an adjective …
Back as a verb[talking about a pet dog] …

Idiom(s)

back the wrong horse

Phrasal verb(s)

back away
back down
back off
back onto sth
back out
back sb up
back sth up
back (sth) up
back up

backadjective [ before noun ]

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​ /bæk/

back adjective [ before noun ] (POSITION)

› at or near the back of something:

She left the house by the back door.
The back seat of the car folds down.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

back adjective [ before noun ] (PAID LATER)

› paid after the end of a period of time when it should have been paid:

They owe the staff several thousand in back pay.
back rent/taxes

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

BackBack is an adverb, noun, adjective or verb. …
Back as an adverb[taking a photograph] …
Back as a noun …
Back as an adjective …
Back as a verb[talking about a pet dog] …

Idiom(s)

on the back burner
take a back seat

(Definition of “back” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"back" in American English

See all translations

backadverb [ not gradable ]

us ​ /bæk/

back adverb [ not gradable ] (RETURN)

› in, at, or toward a previous place or condition or an earlier time

› Back can also mean in return:

back adverb [ not gradable ] (FARTHER AWAY)

› farther away; to a farther place

Idiom(s)

back to the drawing board
back and forth
back in the saddle
back to basics

backadjective [ not gradable ]

us ​ /bæk/

back adjective [ not gradable ] (RETURNED)

› having returned to a previous place or condition

back adjective [ not gradable ] (AT THE BACK)

› at or near the back of something

Idiom(s)

on the back burner

backnoun

us ​ /bæk/

back noun (FARTHEST PART)

› [ U ] the part of something that is farthest from the front

› [ U ] The back of your hand is the side opposite the palm that has hair growing on it.

back noun (BODY PART)

› [ C ] the part of your body opposite the front, from your neck to the top of your legs

› [ C ] The back of a seat is the part your back leans against.

Idiom(s)

someone'sback is turned
in back of
in the back of your mind

backverb

us ​ /bæk/

back verb (SUPPORT)

› [ T ] to give support to someone or something with money or words

back verb (MOVE BACKWARD)

› [ I/T ] to move backward

Phrasal verb(s)

back down
back out
back up (something)
back up (something)
back up someone/something
back up something

(Definition of “back” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"back" in Business English

See all translations

backverb [ T ]

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​

› to give support or approval to someone or something:

Shareholders will be asked to back the proposals.

› FINANCE to provide financial support for someone or something:

A handful of firms will sell more than $2 billion of bonds backed by home equity, credit card, and other loans.
Demand continues for government-backed loans.
Investors are snapping up asset-backed bonds.

Phrasal verb(s)

back out (of sth)
back sb/sth up
back sth up

backadjective [ before noun ]

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​
back pay/rent/tax, etc.

› pay, rent, tax, etc. that should have been paid or was expected at an earlier time:

Most of the back taxes due were for the years 2006 through 2008.
on the back burner

› If something is on the back burner, it is not being dealt with at the present time, especially because it is not urgent or important, but it will be dealt with in the future:

Any plans of opening new restaurants are on the back burner until the recession ends.
I lost my job and had to put my plans to move house on the back burner.
take a back seat

› to become less important (than something else):

Agriculture, which generates only about $50 million a year in revenue, takes a back seat to other industries like oil and gas that bring in billions of dollars.
Environmental issues take a back seat in tough economic times.

› to let other people have a more active and responsible position than you in an organization or activity:

After appointing a new chief executive, the chairman of the fashion chain is finally taking a back seat at the business he founded.

backadverb

uk ​ /bæk/ us ​

› in return or reply:

I'm busy at the moment - can I call you back?
I e-mailed the customer services department and they said they would get back to me tomorrow.

(Definition of “back” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “back”
 
Need a translator?

Translator tool

Get a quick, free translation!

What is the pronunciation of back?
Browse