Meanings
back1
comparative more back · superlative most back
- not comparableusuallyAt or near the rear.
Go in the back door of the house.
1 more example
Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIX, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLCSynonyms: rear
- not comparablepredicativeusuallyReturned or restored to a previous place or condition.
He was on vacation, but now he’s back.
1 more example
The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.
- not comparableusuallySituated away from the main or most frequented areas.
They took a back road.
2 more examples
He lives out in the back country.
It's OK that the highway is jammed, because I know a back way. It's another good way to get there.
- not comparableusuallyIn arrears; overdue.
They still owe three months’ back rent.
1 more example
Several of the former Hotel York workers have filed with the California Labor Division to collect what they feel is owed them in the way of back overtime.
1980 December 20, David Lamble, “Workers, Owners Battle It Out At SF Gay Hotel”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 22, page 9 - comparablenot comparableusuallyhuman sciencesPronounced 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).
The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.
comparative further back · comparative farther back · superlative furthest back · superlative farthest back
- not comparableTo or in a previous condition or place.
He gave back the money.
3 more examples
I left my mobile phone back at the hotel. I’ll have to go back and get it.
We drove back to the office with some concern on my part at the prospect of so large a case. Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLCFrom the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.
2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52 - In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.
2 more examples
Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.
The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.
- In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.
Wind the film back a few frames.
2 more examples
Don’t forget to put the clocks back by one hour tonight!
This mishap has set the project back considerably.
- Towards, into or in the past.
These records go back years.
3 more examples
He built a time machine and travelled back to 1800.
Think back to how you felt last year.
Everything was simpler back in the old days.
- Away from someone or something; at a distance.
Keep back! It could explode at any moment!
- Away from the front or from an edge (of something or someone).
Step back from the curb.
3 more examples
Sit all the way back in your chair.
Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path[…]. It twisted and turned,[…]and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. And, back of the lawn, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights. 'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLCBack of the man, straightening himself while the withdrawing water swirled about his ankles, mounted the next incoming wave.
1923, J. Allan Dunn, “Wild Justice”, in Adventure, volume 39, page 75 - So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.
This tree is dying back.
2 more examples
Clear back all this vegetation.
Draw back the curtains and let in some light.
- In a manner that impedes.
Fear held him back.
- not comparableIn a reciprocal manner; in return.
If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.
3 more examples
The light bounces back off the mirror.
"How is it, comrades?" the admiral shouted through a bullhorn at each ship. "Rah, rah, rah!" the sailors shouted back in unison.
1989 May, Priit J. Vesilind, “The Baltic: Arena of Power”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 604I was at Park Safari Africa in Canada on the Canadian border. This was years ago outside of Plattsburgh, New York. And I had a new car at the time, and I was driving through, going through the monkey area. And they said 'beware of the monkeys.' So about ten of them circled my car. And this one special one, like he was the leader of the pack, jumped up on the hood and came right up to the windshield and looked in. So I was like making faces at him. [garbled] 'don't do that!' And believe it or not, he made like a face back. He jumped off the car. He took his fingernails and he peeled all the chrome on both sides of my car off. Picked it up, jumped on the hood, dropped it and left- looked at me and left.
2006 May 9, Penn Jillette, Michael Goudeau, quoting Pat, 34:52 from the start, in Penn Radio - postpositionalEarlier, ago.
We met many years back.
2 more examples
I last saw him a day or two back.
Our road was chiefly through woods, and part of it lay through the Hurricane-track, that is where a strong wind, some years back, opened a passage through the woods for a mile in breadth...
1822, John Woods, Two Years' Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie, in the Illinois Country, United States, page 138 - To a later point in time. See also put back.
The meeting has been moved back an hour. It was at 3 o’clock; now it's at 4 o’clock.
plural backs
- countableuncountableThe rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
Could you please scratch my back?
1 more example
It was not far from the house; but the ground sank into a depression there, and the ridge of it behind shut out everything except just the roof of the tallest hayrick. As one sat on the sward behind the elm, with the back turned on the rick and nothing in front but the tall elms and the oaks in the other hedge, it was quite easy to fancy it the verge of the prairie with the backwoods close by.
1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC- slanguncountableLarge and attractive buttocks.
Take the average black man and ask him that. She gotta pack much back.
1992, “Baby Got Back”, Sir Mix-A-Lot (lyrics)2 more examples
He got his hand on her behind and caressed her firm, ample flesh.[…]“You got some back on you, girl.”
2002, George Pelecanos, Right as Rain: A Novel, →ISBN, page 123Back so big, look like your jeans shrunk in the wash / And we don't really need Netflix, I'mma give you something to watch
2016 February 14, Joseph Adenuga, Darren Dixon, Tariq Devega, “Ladies Hit Squad” (track 6), in Konnichiwa, performed by Skepta ft. D Double E and ASAP Nast, Boy Better Know - countablefigurativelyuncountableThe part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.
I still need to finish the back of your dress.
- countableuncountableThe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.
Can you fix the back of this chair?
- countableobsoleteuncountableThat part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
Do thou but think / What ’tis to cram a maw or clothe a back / From such a filthy vice
1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
- countableuncountableThe side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
Turn the book over and look at the back.
- countableuncountablemediaThe inside margin of a page.
Convenience and custom have familiarised us to the printed page being a little higher than the middle of the leaf, and to its having a little more margin at the fore edge than in the back.
1841, William Savage, A Dictionary of the Art of Printing, Ayer Publishing, published 1965, →ISBN, page 472 - countableuncountableThe side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.
Tap it with the back of your knife.
- countableuncountableThe reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.
I hung the clothes on the back of the door.
- countableuncountablehobbiesIn some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
The backs were lined up in an I formation.
1 more example
[…]Rovers were also aided by some poor defending from West Brom, whose lapses at the back undid their excellent work on the ball and condemned Roberto di Matteo's Baggies side to a third straight defeat.
2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1-3 Blackburn”, in BBC
- countablefigurativelyuncountableThe upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.
The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
- countableuncountableA support or resource in reserve.
This project / Should have a back or second, that might hold, / If this should blast in proof.
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii] - countableuncountablebusinessThe roof of a horizontal underground passage.
The stope is kept full of broken ore, sufficient only being drawn to leave a working space between the floor of broken ore and the back of the stope.
1911, Robert Bruce Brinsmade, Mining Without Timber, page 161 - slanguncountableEffort, usually physical.
Put some back into it!
- countableuncountableA non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
Could I get a martini with a water back?
- countableuncountableAmong leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
[…]as delivered by a tanner the average weight of a back and two strips would be about 42 pounds[…].
1848, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Maine Reports, volume 6, page 397 - abbreviationclippingcountableuncountablehobbiesClipping of backstroke.
present singular third person backs · participle present backing · participle past backed · past backed
- intransitiveTo go in the reverse direction.
The horse refuses to back.
4 more examples
The train backed into the station.
Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you’re run off your course again. This is a rich man’s summer ‘cottage’ […].” So I started to back away again into the bushes. But I hadn’t backed more’n a couple of yards when I see something so amazing that I couldn’t help scooching down behind the bayberries and looking at it.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLCNo sooner had a waiting locomotive backed on to its train, the vociferous 4-6-4 or 4-8-4 re-emerged from under the bridge, and the two red marker lights on the last vehicles passed, than the headlight of the electric engine hauling the following train could be seen under the bridge and the waiting queue of locomotives had moved up one.
1954 January, H. P. White, “Vignettes of the Rail”, in Railway Magazine, page 54, at Harmon station, New YorkIt was Brianna’s Oldsmobile, and it had been backed into the side of the abandoned house with enough force that the rear bumper was caught on the foundation. The back tyres were actually lifted off the ground.
2026 July 16, Nicholas Muhoro, “Inside the 2004 Brianna Maitland Case: One of Vermont’s Most Haunting Mysteries”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 21 Jul 2026 - transitiveTo support.
I back you all the way.
5 more examples
Which horse are you backing in this race?
Be it known that, waiving all argument, I take the good old fashioned ground that the whale is a fish, and call upon holy Jonah to back me.
1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 32, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 148The pony won three times in one month and as I had backed it on each occasion I collected a ‘bank’ of over £400.
1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 153And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes
2012 June 9, Owen Phillips, “Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark”, in BBC SportThe Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 by 17-5, despite concerns about the bill in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and anger about the measure from Beijing.
2022 September 15, “China lodges complaint as U.S. Senate panel advances Taiwan bill”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 15 Sep 2022, Asia Pacific - nauticalTo lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
- UKTo stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
- transitiveTo push or force backwards.
to back oxen
2 more examples
The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.
The soil seems to be very good; the creek runs through the reserve, and has a dam thrown across it, which backs the water for a very considerable distance, and enables them to irrigate a portion of their cultivation block.
1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 279 - obsoletetransitiveTo get upon the back of; to mount.
I will back him [a horse] straight.
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]1 more example
The horse was the grey stallion he aye rode, the very beast he had ridden for many a wager with the wild lads of the Cross Keys. No man but himself durst back it, and it had lamed many a hostler lad and broke two necks in its day.
1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide - obsoletetransitiveTo place or seat upon the back.
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, / Appeared to me.
1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v] - To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
to back books
- To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
the chalk cliffs which back the beach
1877, Thomas Henry Huxley, Physiography: An Introduction to the Study of Nature4 more examples
He hath a garden circummured with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard backed
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one’s dreams.
1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLCSo we continue climbing to the saddle of the Kleine Scheidegg, where ahead there comes into view the wide expanse of the Grindelwald valley, backed by the snowy crown of the Wetterhorn.
1960 December, Voyageur, “The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 752I Feel Fine — single, backed by "She's A Woman"
2020, Lesley-Ann Jones, The Search For John Lennon - To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
to back a letter; to back a note or legal document
- lawTo sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
- Multicultural London EnglishtransitiveTo draw from behind the back (a knife etc.) (as also back out).
Sticks and Stones may break my bones Not when I back this botty
2017 August 4, “Sticks and Stones”performed by Zone 2 (Kwengface x Trizzac x PS)1 more example
When I back this blade, wallahi The hearts get beat like they just saw jihadi
2020 August 13, TwoLzz, “TwentyTwo”, 1:14–1:18
back2
Back3
- A surname.
- A settlement on the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NB4840).
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveAt or near the rear.
nounThe edge of a book which is bound.
antonym(s) of “near the rear, phonetics”
antonym(s) of “not current”
antonym(s) of “away from the main area”
side opposite the visible side
rear of the body
antonym(s) of “side opposite the front or useful side”
antonym(s) of
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiverelated to or located at the back
adjectiveof an earlier date
nounthe posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
nounthe part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
nounthe series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
nounthe protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
back · adjective, adverb, noun, verb
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰeg-der.?
- Proto-Germanic*baką
- Proto-West Germanic*bak
- Old Englishbæc
- Middle Englishbak
- Englishback
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]”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →back · noun
- Frenchbac
- Frenchbac
- Englishback
Borrowed from French bac.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans agter, agteraf
- agternear the rear
- agterafaway from the main area
- terugto or in a previous condition or place
- agterkantthe part of something that goes last
- agterthe reverse side — see also rear
- agterkantthe reverse side — see also rear
- rugthe rear of body
- agterthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- agterkantthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Ancient Greek ὀπίσθιος, ὀπίσω
- ὀπίσθιος (opísthios)near the rear
- ὀπίσω (opísō)to or in a previous condition or place
- ἄψ (áps)to or in a previous condition or place
- αὖτις (aûtis)to or in a previous condition or place
- νῶτος (nôtos)the rear of body
- ῥάχις (rhákhis)the rear of body
Arabic خَلْفِيّ, ظَهْر
- خَلْفِيّ (ḵalfiyy)near the rear
- ظَهْر (ẓahr)the rear of body
- ضهر (ḍahr)the rear of body
- ظَهَر (ḍahar)the rear of body
- ضهر (ḍhar)the rear of body
Basque atzera, bizkar
- atzeraaway from the front or from an edge
- bizkarthe rear of body
Bengali পিঠ
- পিঠ (piṭh)the rear of body
Bulgarian за́ден, стар
- за́ден (záden)near the rear
- стар (star)not current
- страни́чен (straníčen)away from the main area
- наза́д (nazád)to or in a previous condition or place
- обра́тно (obrátno)to or in a previous condition or place
- назад (nazad)away from the front or from an edge
- облега́лка (oblegálka)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- защи́тник (zaštítnik)a position behind most players on the team
- о́пако (ópako)the reverse side — see also rear
- гръб (grăb)the rear of body
- за́дница (zádnica)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- поддържам (poddăržam)to support
- корито (korito)cistern
Catalan enrere, enrere
- enrereto or in a previous condition or place
- enrereaway from the front or from an edge
- endarrereaway from the front or from an edge
- esquenathe rear of body
- recularto go in the reverse direction
- fer costatto support
Chinese җибый, 尻脊骿
- җибый (jibɨy)the rear of body
- 尻脊骿 (kha-chiah-phiaⁿ, ka-chiah-phiaⁿ)the rear of body
- 尻脊 (kha-chiah, ka-chiah)the rear of body
Chinese Cantonese 背脊
- 背脊 (bui³ zek³)the rear of body
Chinese Mandarin 後 /后, 後面的 /后面的
- 後 /后 (hòu)near the rear
- 後面的 /后面的 (hòumiàn de)near the rear
- 以前的 (yǐqián de)not current
- 偏僻的 (piānpì de)away from the main area
- 向後 /向后 (xiànghòu)to or in a previous condition or place
- 後 /后 (hòu)to or in a previous condition or place
- 後面的 /后面的 (hóumiàn de)away from the front or from an edge
- 最後的 /最后的 (zuìhòu de)the part of something that goes last
- 後面的 /后面的 (hòumiàn de)a position behind most players on the team
- 後面 /后面 (hóumiàn)the reverse side — see also rear
- 背部 (bèibù)the rear of body
- 背 (bèi)the rear of body
- 脊背 (jǐbèi)the rear of body
- 最後 /最后 (zuìhòu)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Czech zadní, starý
- zadnínear the rear
- starýnot current
- odlehlýaway from the main area
- zadníphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- zadopatrovýphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- zpětto or in a previous condition or place
- zpátkyto or in a previous condition or place
- vzaduaway from the front or from an edge
- dozaduaway from the front or from an edge
- zpětin a manner that impedes
- zpátkyin a manner that impedes
- zadní částthe part of something that goes last
- obráncea position behind most players on the team
- beka position behind most players on the team
- útočníka position behind most players on the team
- rubthe reverse side — see also rear
- zádathe rear of body
- hřbetthe rear of body
- zadekthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- zadní částthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- couvatto go in the reverse direction
- podporovatto support
- káďcistern
Danish tilbage, bagside
- tilbageto or in a previous condition or place
- bagsidethe reverse side — see also rear
- rygthe rear of body
Dari پُشْت, عَقْب
- پُشْت (pušt)the reverse side — see also rear
- عَقْب (aqb)the reverse side — see also rear
- پُشْت (pušt)the rear of body
- ظَهْر (zahr)the rear of body
Dutch achter, oud
- achternear the rear
- oudnot current
- achterafaway from the main area
- terugto or in a previous condition or place
- tegenin a manner that impedes
- rugleuningthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- achterkantthe part of something that goes last
- verdedigera position behind most players on the team
- achterhoedespelera position behind most players on the team
- achterkantthe reverse side — see also rear
- achterthe reverse side — see also rear
- rugthe rear of body
- achterkantthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- achterthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- achteruit gaanto go in the reverse direction
- achteruit rijdento go in the reverse direction
- steunento support
Esperanto malantaŭa, malprogresa
- malantaŭanear the rear
- malprogresanot current
- neprogresintanot current
- subevoluintanot current
- retreto or in a previous condition or place
- malantaŭeaway from the front or from an edge
- posteaway from the front or from an edge
- retreaway from the front or from an edge
- defendantoa position behind most players on the team
- malantaŭothe reverse side — see also rear
- dorsothe rear of body
- fundothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- malantaŭaĵothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- malantaŭothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- malantaŭenirito go in the reverse direction
- apogito support
- subtenito support
Estonian tagasi, selg
- tagasito or in a previous condition or place
- selgthe rear of body
Finnish taka-, vanha
- taka-near the rear
- vanhanot current
- syrjä-away from the main area
- syrjäinenaway from the main area
- taka-phonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- takainenphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- takaisinto or in a previous condition or place
- kauemmasaway from the front or from an edge
- poispäinaway from the front or from an edge
- poisaway from the front or from an edge
- kiinniin a manner that impedes
- estäenin a manner that impedes
- hillitenin a manner that impedes
- pidätellenin a manner that impedes
- selkänojathe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- peräthe part of something that goes last
- takaosathe part of something that goes last
- peräpääthe part of something that goes last
- puolustajaa position behind most players on the team
- pakkia position behind most players on the team
- kääntöpuolithe reverse side — see also rear
- nurja puolithe reverse side — see also rear
- takapuolithe reverse side — see also rear
- taka-the reverse side — see also rear
- selkäthe rear of body
- peräthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- peruuttaato go in the reverse direction
- tukeato support
- pakataof wind: to shift in an anticlockwise direction
- säiliöcistern
French de derrière, postérieur
- de derrièrenear the rear
- postérieurnear the rear
- écartéaway from the main area
- postérieurphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- de retourto or in a previous condition or place
- finthe part of something that goes last
- arrièrea position behind most players on the team
- derrièrethe reverse side — see also rear
- reversthe reverse side — see also rear
- dosthe rear of body
- fondthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- reculerto go in the reverse direction
- faire marche arrièreto go in the reverse direction
- soutenirto support
German hinterer, Rück-
- hinterernear the rear
- Rück-near the rear
- frühernot current
- altnot current
- veraltetnot current
- abgelegenaway from the main area
- hintererphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- Hinterzungen-phonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- zurückto or in a previous condition or place
- wieder dato or in a previous condition or place
- Rückenlehnethe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- Endethe part of something that goes last
- Hinterendethe part of something that goes last
- Verteidigera position behind most players on the team
- Rückseitethe reverse side — see also rear
- Kehrseitethe reverse side — see also rear
- Rückenthe rear of body
- Endethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- Fondthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- Hintergrundthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- Hinterseitethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- zurücksetzento go in the reverse direction
- rückdrehenof wind: to shift in an anticlockwise direction
- Würzpfannecistern
- Pfannecistern
- Wannecistern
- Bottichcistern
- Küpecistern
Greek πίσω, πλάτη
- πίσω (píso)to or in a previous condition or place
- πλάτη (pláti)the rear of body
Hawaiian kua
- kuathe rear of body
Hebrew אחורי, סוֹף
- אחוריphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- סוֹף (sof)the part of something that goes last
- מגן (magen)a position behind most players on the team
- גב (gav)the reverse side — see also rear
- גַּב (gav)the rear of body
- גִּבָּה (gibbá)to support
Hindi पश्व, वापस
- पश्व (paśva)phonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- वापस (vāpas)to or in a previous condition or place
- पीछे (pīche)to or in a previous condition or place
- पुश्त (puśt)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- پُشْت (puśt)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- पीठ (pīṭh)the rear of body
- पुश्त (puśt)the rear of body
Hungarian hátsó, hátulsó
- hátsónear the rear
- hátulsónear the rear
- visszato or in a previous condition or place
- mögéaway from the front or from an edge
- hátuljathe reverse side — see also rear
- hátthe rear of body
- hátrálto go in the reverse direction
Icelandic til baka, afturhluti
- til bakato or in a previous condition or place
- afturhlutithe part of something that goes last
- bakhliðthe reverse side — see also rear
- bakthe rear of body
Indonesian belakang, belakang
- belakangthe part of something that goes last
- belakanga position behind most players on the team
- belakangthe reverse side — see also rear
- punggungthe rear of body
- belakangthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- mundurto go in the reverse direction
- dukungto support
Iranian Persian پُشْت, عَقْب
- پُشْت (pošt)the reverse side — see also rear
- عَقْب (aġb)the reverse side — see also rear
- پُشْت (pošt)the rear of body
- ظَهْر (zahr)the rear of body
- پُشْت (pošt)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Irish cúl-, sean-
- cúl-near the rear
- sean-not current
- iar-not current
- cúl-away from the main area
- ar aisto or in a previous condition or place
- siaraway from the front or from an edge
- siarin a manner that impedes
- cúlthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- cúlthe part of something that goes last
- cúlaía position behind most players on the team
- tacaa position behind most players on the team
- droimthe reverse side — see also rear
- droimthe rear of body
- cúlthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- cúlaighto go in the reverse direction
- tacaigh leto support
- cúlaighof wind: to shift in an anticlockwise direction
Italian posteriore, di dietro
- posteriorenear the rear
- di dietronear the rear
- arretratonot current
- secondarioaway from the main area
- posteriorephonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- indietroto or in a previous condition or place
- a postoto or in a previous condition or place
- indietroaway from the front or from an edge
- fondothe part of something that goes last
- dietrothe part of something that goes last
- difensorea position behind most players on the team
- terzinoa position behind most players on the team
- retrothe reverse side — see also rear
- dietrothe reverse side — see also rear
- rovesciothe reverse side — see also rear
- schienathe rear of body
- dorsothe rear of body
- fondothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- indietreggiareto go in the reverse direction
- fare marcia indietroto go in the reverse direction
- appoggiareto support
- sostenereto support
Japanese 後の, 裏の
- 後の (ushiro no)near the rear
- 裏の (ura no)near the rear
- 裏 (ura)away from the main area
- 後舌 (atojita)phonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- 戻り (modori)to or in a previous condition or place
- 元の (moto no)to or in a previous condition or place
- 元通り (motodōri)to or in a previous condition or place
- 以前の (izen no)to or in a previous condition or place
- 後ろ (ushiro)the part of something that goes last
- 後方 (kōhō)the part of something that goes last
- 後ろ側 (ushirogawa)the part of something that goes last
- 裏 (ura)the reverse side — see also rear
- 裏面 (uramen)the reverse side — see also rear
- 裏側 (uragawa)the reverse side — see also rear
- 背後 (haigo)the reverse side — see also rear
- 背 (se)the rear of body
- 背中 (senaka)the rear of body
- 背面 (haimen)the rear of body
- 最後 (saigo)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- 後ろ (ushiro)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- 戻る (modoru)to go in the reverse direction
- 帰る (kaeru)to go in the reverse direction
- 逆行する (gyakkousuru)to go in the reverse direction
Korean 뒤의, 뒤로
- 뒤의 (dwiui)near the rear
- 뒤로 (dwiro)to or in a previous condition or place
- 뒤로 (dwiro)away from the front or from an edge
- 뒤 (dwi)the reverse side — see also rear
- 뒤쪽 (dwijjok)the reverse side — see also rear
- 이면 (imyeon)the reverse side — see also rear
- 리면 (rimyeon)the reverse side — see also rear
- 배후 (baehu)the reverse side — see also rear
- 등 (deung)the rear of body
- 뒤 (dwi)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- 뒷걸음치다 (dwitgeoreumchida)to go in the reverse direction
- 역행하다 (yeokhaenghada)to go in the reverse direction
- 후퇴하다 (hutoehada)to go in the reverse direction
Latin postīcus, retrō
- postīcusnear the rear
- retrōto or in a previous condition or place
- retroaway from the front or from an edge
- tergumthe reverse side — see also rear
- dorsumthe rear of body
- tergumthe rear of body
- tergumthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Latvian atpakaļ, mugura
- atpakaļto or in a previous condition or place
- mugurathe rear of body
Lithuanian nugara
- nugarathe rear of body
Malay belakang, balik
- belakangnear the rear
- balikto or in a previous condition or place
- belakangthe rear of body
Māori takamuri, angaangamate
- takamurinear the rear
- angaangamatethe reverse side — see also rear
- angamatethe reverse side — see also rear
- maihamothe rear of body
- kohamothe rear of body
- tuarāthe rear of body
- uethe rear of body
- kōpakothe rear of body
- tuarongothe rear of body
- murithe rear of body
- kōkaithe rear of body
- murikōkaithe rear of body
- mōuathe rear of body
- pēketo go in the reverse direction
- tautokoto support
- taunakito support
- whakatuarāto support
- kōrureof wind: to shift in an anticlockwise direction
Norwegian tilbake
- tilbakein a manner that impedes
Norwegian Bokmål tilbake, rygg
- tilbaketo or in a previous condition or place
- ryggthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- ryggstøthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- bakendethe part of something that goes last
- backa position behind most players on the team
- baksidethe reverse side — see also rear
- ryggthe rear of body
- bakthe rear of body
- baksidethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- akterendethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- ryggeto go in the reverse direction
Persian پشت, عقب به
- پشت (pošt)near the rear
- عقب بهto or in a previous condition or place
- پسto or in a previous condition or place
Polish tylny, zadni
- tylnynear the rear
- zadninear the rear
- z powrotemto or in a previous condition or place
- nazadto or in a previous condition or place
- oparciethe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- tyłthe part of something that goes last
- koniecthe part of something that goes last
- obrońcaa position behind most players on the team
- tyłthe reverse side — see also rear
- plecythe rear of body
- tyłthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- koniecthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Portuguese de trás, traseiro
- de trásnear the rear
- traseironear the rear
- dos fundosnear the rear
- posteriornear the rear
- antigonot current
- afastadoaway from the main area
- posteriorphonetics: produced in the back of the mouth
- de voltato or in a previous condition or place
- para trásaway from the front or from an edge
- para trásin a manner that impedes
- encosto (para as costas)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- fundothe part of something that goes last
- zagueiroa position behind most players on the team
- bequea position behind most players on the team
- dorsothe reverse side — see also rear
- reversothe reverse side — see also rear
- traseirathe reverse side — see also rear
- parte de trásthe reverse side — see also rear
- costasthe rear of body
- lombothe rear of body
- fundothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- fazer marcha atrásto go in the reverse direction
- fazer marcha-à-réto go in the reverse direction
- apoiarto support
Punjabi ਢੂਹੀ
- ਢੂਹੀ (ḍhūhī)the rear of body
Romanian din spate, anterior
- din spatenear the rear
- anteriornot current
- înapoito or in a previous condition or place
- spatethe part of something that goes last
- spatethe reverse side — see also rear
- dosthe reverse side — see also rear
- spatethe rear of body
- dosthe rear of body
- spinarethe rear of body
- spatethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Russian за́дний, ты́льный
- за́дний (zádnij)near the rear
- ты́льный (týlʹnyj)near the rear
- хвостово́й (xvostovój)near the rear
- ста́рый (stáryj)not current
- наза́д (nazád)to or in a previous condition or place
- обра́тно (obrátno)to or in a previous condition or place
- вспять (vspjatʹ)to or in a previous condition or place
- наза́д (nazád)away from the front or from an edge
- спи́нка (spínka)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- зад (zad)the part of something that goes last
- защи́тник (zaščítnik)a position behind most players on the team
- зад (zad)the reverse side — see also rear
- за́дняя часть (zádnjaja častʹ)the reverse side — see also rear
- ты́льная часть (týlʹnaja častʹ)the reverse side — see also rear
- спина́ (spiná)the rear of body
- зад (zad)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- е́здить наза́д (jézditʹ nazád)to go in the reverse direction
- е́хать наза́д (jéxatʹ nazád)to go in the reverse direction
- подде́рживать (poddérživatʹ)to support
Scottish Gaelic cùil, air ais
- cùilnear the rear
- air aisto or in a previous condition or place
- air aisaway from the front or from an edge
- air aisin a manner that impedes
- cùlthe part of something that goes last
- cùlthe reverse side — see also rear
- cùlthe rear of body
- cùlthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- seasto support
Slovak zadný, starý
- zadnýnear the rear
- starýnot current
- vedľajšíaway from the main area
- odľahlýaway from the main area
- späťto or in a previous condition or place
- nazadto or in a previous condition or place
- chrbátthe rear of body
- cúvaťto go in the reverse direction
- podporovaťto support
Spanish de atrás, trasero
- de atrásnear the rear
- traseronear the rear
- posteriornear the rear
- anteriornot current
- viejonot current
- atrasadonot current
- apartadoaway from the main area
- arrinconadoaway from the main area
- distanteaway from the main area
- hacia atrásto or in a previous condition or place
- de vueltato or in a previous condition or place
- de regresoto or in a previous condition or place
- atrásaway from the front or from an edge
- arredroaway from the front or from an edge
- respaldothe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- espaldarthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- fondothe part of something that goes last
- extremothe part of something that goes last
- cabothe part of something that goes last
- defensaa position behind most players on the team
- revésthe reverse side — see also rear
- envésthe reverse side — see also rear
- reversothe reverse side — see also rear
- dorsothe reverse side — see also rear
- espaldathe rear of body
- dorsothe rear of body
- ir marcha atrásto go in the reverse direction
- dar marcha atrásto go in the reverse direction
- retrocederto go in the reverse direction
- respaldarto support
- sostenerto support
Swahili mgongo, mgongo
- mgongothe reverse side — see also rear
- mgongothe rear of body
- mgongothat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Swedish bak, tillbaka
- baknear the rear
- tillbakato or in a previous condition or place
- tillbakain a manner that impedes
- ryggthe backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- bakändethe part of something that goes last
- backa position behind most players on the team
- baksidathe reverse side — see also rear
- ryggthe rear of body
- bakändethat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- slutthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- backato go in the reverse direction
- backa uppto support
Tagalog huling dulo, huling bahagi
- huling dulothe part of something that goes last
- huling bahagithe part of something that goes last
- likodthe reverse side — see also rear
- likodthe rear of body
- pinakalikodthat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Tamil முதுகு
- முதுகு (mutuku)the rear of body
Thai หลัง, หลัง
- หลัง (lǎng)near the rear
- หลัง (lǎng)the rear of body
Turkish arka, geri
- arkanear the rear
- gerito or in a previous condition or place
- sırtthe rear of body
- arkathat which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
Ukrainian за́дній, ти́льний
- за́дній (zádnij)near the rear
- ти́льний (týlʹnyj)near the rear
- наза́д (nazád)to or in a previous condition or place
- спи́нка (spýnka)the backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back — see also backrest
- зад (zad)the part of something that goes last
- захисни́к (zaxysnýk)a position behind most players on the team
- зад (zad)the reverse side — see also rear
- спи́на (spýna)the rear of body
- зад (zad)that which is farthest away from the front — see also rear
- підтримувати (pidtrymuvaty)to support
- підтримати (pidtrymaty)to support
Urdu واپس, پِیٹھ
- واپس (vāpas)to or in a previous condition or place
- پِیٹھ (pīṭh)the rear of body
- پُشْت (puśt)the rear of body
- ظَہْر (zahr)the rear of body
Vietnamese lùi lại, lại
- lùi lạito or in a previous condition or place
- lạito or in a previous condition or place
- lưngthe rear of body
Welsh yn ôl
- yn ôlto or in a previous condition or place
Yiddish צוריק, פּלייצע
- צוריק (tsurik)to or in a previous condition or place
- פּלייצע (pleytse)the rear of body
- רוקן (rukn)the rear of body
Zulu umuva, umhlane
- umuvathe reverse side — see also rear
- umhlanethe rear of body
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with back
Cite this entry
back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back
“back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “back,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back.
Source: back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.