back


Definition: Meaning of, back in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / bak /

  • adverb
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
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  1. return to place in, into, or to the place or position where someone or something was before
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  2. as before in or into the condition or situation you were in before
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  3. previous place in or to a place where you lived or worked before
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  4. backwards in the opposite direction from the way you are facing
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  5. reply/reaction if you do something back, you do it as a reply or reaction to what someone has said or done
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  6. return something to somebody if you give something, get something etc back, you return it to the person who first had it or you have it returned to you
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  7. in the past in or towards a time in the past
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  8. again once again
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  9. sit/lie/lean back to sit or lie in a comfortable relaxed way
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  10. away away from a surface, person, or thing
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  11. back and forth going in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and repeating this several times
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  12. towards beginning towards the beginning of a book, tape, document etc
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  • noun
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Word Forms:
Singular Plural
back backs
[countable]
  1. part of your body the part of the body between the neck and legs, on the opposite side to the stomach and chest
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  2. part of your body the bones between your neck and the top of your legs [=  spine]
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  3. not at front [usually singular] the part of something that is furthest from the front
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  4. less important side [usually singular] the less important side or surface of something such as a piece of paper or card
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  5. part of seat the part of a seat that you lean against when you are sitting
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  6. book/newspaper [usually singular] the last pages of a book or newspaper
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  7. at/in the back of your mind a thought that is at the back of your mind is one you try to ignore because you do not want it to be true
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  8. back to back with the backs towards each other
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  9. back to back happening immediately one after the other
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  10. back to front British English in an incorrect position so that what should be at the back is at the front
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  11. back to front British English doing something the wrong way round and starting with the part that should be at the end
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  12. behind somebody's back if you do something behind someone's back, you do it without them knowing
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  13. when/while somebody's back is turned if something happens when your back is turned, it happens when you are not able to see or know what someone is doing
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  14. get/put somebody's back up British English informal to annoy someone
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  15. get (somebody) off somebody's back spoken to stop annoying someone with a lot of questions, criticisms etc or to make someone stop annoying you in this way
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  16. be on somebody's back spoken to be trying to make someone do something they do not want to do
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  17. on the back of something as a result of something that already exists or something you have already done
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  18. on the backs of somebody using the work of a particular group to achieve something that they will not get any advantage from
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  19. sports a defending player in a sports team [=  defender]
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  20. the back of beyond informal a place that is a long way from other places and is difficult to get to
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  21. be (flat) on your back to be lying on your back - used to emphasize that someone seems unlikely to get up soon
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  22. be (flat) on your back to be so ill that you cannot get out of bed
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  23. be (flat) on your back if a business, country, ECONOMY etc is on its back, it is not successful
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  24. put your back into it informal to work extremely hard at something
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  25. be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something to be happy that someone is leaving or because you no longer have to deal with something
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  26. have your back to/against the wall informal to be in a difficult situation with no choice about what to do
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  27. at your back behind you
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  28. at your back supporting you
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  29. on your back informal not polite if someone achieves something on their back, they achieve it by having sex with someone
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  30. high-backed/straight-backed/low-backed etc with a high, straight, low etc back
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synonym
antonym
  • verb
  • synonym
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Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
back backed backed
Present Participle Third Person Singular
backing backs
  1. support [transitive usually passive] to support someone or something, especially by giving them money or using your influence
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  2. support [transitive usually passive] also back up to support an idea by providing facts, proof etc
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  3. move backwards [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to move backwards, or make someone or something move backwards
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  4. put something on the back [transitive usually passive] to put a material or substance onto the back of something, in order to protect it or make it stronger
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  5. be behind something [transitive usually passive] to be at the back of something or behind it
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  6. music [transitive usually passive] to play or sing the music that supports the main singer or musician
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  7. risk money [transitive] to risk money on whether a particular horse, dog, team etc wins something
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  8. back the wrong horse to support someone or something that is not successful
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synonym
antonym
  • adjective
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
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[only before noun]
  1. at or in the back of something
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  2. behind something, especially a building
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  3. from the back
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  4. back street/lane/road etc a street etc that is away from the main streets
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  5. back rent/taxes/pay etc money that someone owes from an earlier date
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  6. back issue/copy/number a copy of a magazine or newspaper from an earlier date
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  7. technical a back vowel sound is made by lifting your tongue at the back of your mouth
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synonym
antonym

back used in phrases

  • Look Back in Anger
    1. (1956) a play by John Osborne about a young WORKING CLASS man called Jimmy Porter, who continually argues with his wife, criticizing her and her family because they represent a traditional society he does not respect. The play influenced many British writers in the 1950s.
  • back alley (noun)
    1. an alleyway that runs behind a row of houses, or between rows of houses
  • back and forth (adverb)
    1. moving from one place to another and back again
  • back bacon (noun)
    1. from a boned strip of cured loin
  • back boiler (noun)
    1. a boiler that supplies central heating and/or hot water, fitted into a fireplace recess, normally behind a gas fire
  • back brace (noun)
    1. a brace worn to support the back
  • back breaker (noun)
    1. street name for lysergic acid diethylamide
  • back burner (noun)
    1. reduced priority
  • back catalogue (noun)
    1. music that a performer has recorded in the past
  • back channel (noun)
    1. especially in diplomacy or government an alternative to the regular channels of communication that is used when agreements must be made secretly
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back used in phrasal verbs

  • back away (phrasal verb)
    1. to move away backwards from someone, for example because you are afraid
    2. to gradually become less involved in something
  • back down (phrasal verb)
    1. to stop asking for something, or to stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you
  • back off (phrasal verb)
    1. to move backwards in order to get further away from something
    2. to stop criticizing someone or telling them what to do
  • back onto (phrasal verb)
    1. back onto something if a building, garden etc backs onto a place, that place is directly behind it
  • back out (phrasal verb)
    1. to decide not to do something you agreed to do
  • back up (phrasal verb)
    1. [transitive] back someone up to give support to someone by telling other people that you agree with them
    2. [transitive] to show that an explanation or belief is probably true
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