BACK: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for BACK?

Need another word that means the same as “back”? Find 103 synonyms and 30 related words for “back” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Back” are: backrest, rear, binding, book binding, cover, backbone, rachis, spinal column, spine, vertebral column, dorsum, rear side, end, tail end, rear end, tail, far end, reverse, reverse side, underside, full back, sweeper, backward, backwards, rearward, rearwards, behind one, away, endorse, indorse, second, back up, bet on, gage, game, punt, stake, plump for, plunk for, support, sponsor, finance, put up the money for, fund, subsidize, underwrite, promote, lend one's name to, be a patron of, act as guarantor of, sanction, approve of, give one's blessing to, smile on, favour, advocate, uphold, champion, stand by, give one's support to, side with, be on someone's side, take someone's side, take someone's part, play a musical accompaniment for, play with, play for, place a bet on, gamble on, stake money on, drive backwards, move backwards, veer, alter, change, vary, fluctuate, turn, swing, change direction, put a lining in, put a backing on, interline, face, panel, inlay, reinforce, encase, hind, hinder, hindmost, rearmost, dorsal, posterior, past, old, previous, earlier, former, out of date

Back as a Noun

Definitions of "Back" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “back” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage.
• The spine of a person or animal.
• A person's back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition.
• A person who plays in the backfield.
• The position directly behind someone or something.
• The upper surface of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's back.
• (football) a person who plays in the backfield.
• The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine.
• A player in a team game who plays in a defensive position behind the forwards.
• The part of a garment that covers a person's back.
• The position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage.
• The main structure of a ship's hull or an aircraft's fuselage.
• The side that goes last or is not normally seen.
• The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord.
• The part of a garment that covers the back of your body.
• The part of a chair against which the sitter's back rests.
• The side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear.
• A support that you can lean against while sitting.
• The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
• The protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book.
• The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer.
• The grounds of Cambridge colleges which back on to the River Cam.
• The side or part of an object that is not normally seen or used.

Synonyms of "Back" as a noun (22 Words)

backbone	The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord. He has enough backbone to see us through this difficulty.
backrest	A support for a person’s back when they are seated.
binding	Fabric cut or woven in a strip used for binding the edges of a piece of material. The binding of antibodies to cell surfaces.
book binding	The sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina.
cover	An area of the field consisting of cover point and extra cover. A manhole cover.
dorsum	The dorsal part of an organism or structure. The dorsum of the foot.
end	The state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that when achieved terminates behavior intended to achieve it. One end of the box was marked This side up.
far end	A terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to institute Hutu control again.
full back	The time when the Moon is fully illuminated.
rachis	The vertebral column or the cord from which it develops.
rear	The space or position at the back of something or someone. She stumbled around before finally landing on her rear.
rear end	The side of an object that is opposite its front.
rear side	The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer.
reverse	A play in which a player reverses the direction of attack by passing the ball to a teammate moving in the opposite direction. We thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true.
reverse side	The gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed.
spinal column	A vertical glass tube used in column chromatography; a mixture is poured in the top and washed through a stationary substance where components of the mixture are adsorbed selectively to form colored bands.
spine	A linear pay scale operated by some large organizations that allows flexibility for local and specific conditions. The title and author were printed on the spine of the book.
sweeper	A small nocturnal shoaling fish of reefs and coastal waters, occurring chiefly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. A street sweeper.
tail	A tailcoat or a man s formal evening suit with a tailcoat. McDermott worked his way through the tail finishing with ten wickets.
tail end	The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on.
underside	The bottom or lower side or surface of something. The butterfly s wings have a mottled brown pattern on the underside.
vertebral column	A vertical array of numbers or other information.

Usage Examples of "Back" as a noun

• The adults have white bodies with grey backs.
• He wrote the date on the back of the photograph.
• A rubber dinghy with an engine at the back.
• Their backs showed some impressive running and passing.
• They pinned a `kick me' sign on his back.
• She unbuttoned her dress from the back.
• His back was nicely tanned.
• A top with a scooped neckline and a low back.
• Forbes slapped me on the back.
• The fall broke his back.
• The back of a postcard.
• He stood at the back of the stage.
• Demetrius broke its back on the rocks in a force 11 gale.
• The back of the dental chair was adjustable.
• Back pain.
• The Press are on my back.
• At the back of the hotel is a secluded garden.
• He lay on his back.

Back as a Verb

Definitions of "Back" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “back” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Cover the back of (an article) in order to support, protect, or decorate it.
• Establish as valid or genuine.
• Be in favour of.
• Strengthen by providing with a back or backing.
• Lie behind or at the back of.
• Put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down or assist in turning through the wind.
• Be behind; approve of.
• Shift to a counterclockwise direction.
• Supplement in order to strengthen.
• Give support or one's approval to.
• Bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest.
• Cause to travel backward.
• (in popular music) provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician.
• Travel backward.
• Support financial backing for.
• Place a bet on.
• Be in back of.
• Cause to move backwards.
• Give financial, material, or moral support to.
• Walk or drive backwards.
• Put a piece of music on the less important side of (a vinyl recording.
• (of the wind) change direction anticlockwise around the points of the compass.

Synonyms of "Back" as a verb (62 Words)

act as guarantor of	Behave unnaturally or affectedly.
advocate	Publicly recommend or support. Voters supported candidates who advocated an Assembly.
alter	Make an alteration to. Our outward appearance alters as we get older.
approve of	Judge to be right or commendable; think well of.
back up	Be behind; approve of.
be a patron of	Have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun.
be on someone's side	Occupy a certain position or area.
bet on	Have faith or confidence in.
champion	Protect or fight for as a champion. He championed the rights of the working class and the poor.
change	Cause to change make different cause a transformation. The weather changed last night.
change direction	Remove or replace the coverings of.
cover	Form a cover over. The barn floor was covered in straw.
drive backwards	Proceed along in a vehicle.
encase	Enclose or cover in a case or close-fitting surround. Each was encased in a plastic shrink wrap.
endorse	Declare one’s public approval or support of. Endorse cheques.
face	Turn so as to face turn the face in a certain direction. The two sofas face each other.
favour	Bestow a privilege upon. Natural selection has favoured bats.
finance	Provide funding for (a person or enterprise. Can we finance the addition to our home.
fluctuate	Cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern. Trade with other countries tends to fluctuate from year to year.
fund	Provide a fund for the redemption of principal or payment of interest. The government funds basic research in many areas.
gage	Offer (an object or one’s life) as a guarantee of good faith. A guide sent to them by the headman of this place gaged his life as a forfeit if he failed.
gamble on	Take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome.
game	Play video games. The majority of the audience are teens who game and watch anime.
give one's blessing to	Occur.
give one's support to	Propose.
indorse	Sign as evidence of legal transfer.
inlay	Ornament (an object) by embedding pieces of a different material in it, flush with its surface. A small silver crown was inlaid in the wood.
interline	Insert words between the lines of (a document or other text. The writing was overwritten and interlined by many hands.
lend one's name to	Give temporarily; let have for a limited time.
move backwards	Have an emotional or cognitive impact upon.
panel	Decorate with panels. We panelled the wall around the window.
place a bet on	Estimate.
play a musical accompaniment for	Play a role or part.
play for	Use or move.
play with	Be performed or presented for public viewing.
plump for	Drop sharply.
plunk for	Be behind; approve of.
promote	Of an additive act as a promoter of a catalyst. She was promoted to General Manager.
punt	Convey in a punt. In summer you can enjoy punting along the river.
put a backing on	Arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events.
put a lining in	Attribute or give.
put up the money for	Cause to be in a certain state; cause to be in a certain relation.
reinforce	Strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material. The helmet has been reinforced with a double layer of cork.
reverse	Reverse the position order relation or condition of. The court reversed his conviction.
sanction	Give religious sanction to such as through on oath. Foreigners in France illegally should be sent home their employers sanctioned and border controls tightened up.
second	Transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment. Her view is seconded by most Indian leaders today.
side with	Take sides for or againstm siding against the current candidate.
smile on	Express with a smile.
sponsor	Assume sponsorship of. The USA sponsored negotiations between the two sides.
stake	Tie or fasten to a stake. Stake out the path.
stake money on	Mark with a stake.
stand by	Be tall; have a height of; copula.
subsidize	Support (an organization or activity) financially. The mining industry continues to be subsidized.
support	Give moral or psychological support aid or courage to. The dome was supported by a hundred white columns.
swing	Be a social swinger socialize a lot. Swing forward.
take someone's part	Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect.
take someone's side	Lay claim to; as of an idea.
turn	To break and turn over earth especially with a plow. The wheels are turning.
underwrite	(of a bank or other financial institution) pledge to buy all the unsold shares in (an issue of new shares. They were willing to underwrite in part the construction of a ship.
uphold	Confirm or support (something which has been questioned. They uphold a tradition of not causing distress to living creatures.
vary	Change from one condition, form, or state to another. His moods vary depending on the weather.
veer	(of the wind) change direction clockwise around the points of the compass. The motorbike veered to the right.

Usage Examples of "Back" as a verb

• The car backed up and hit the tree.
• The promenade is backed by lots of cafes.
• The government troops were backed by paramilitary forces.
• Back this enterprise.
• He backed the horse at 33–1.
• He had a newspaper empire backing him.
• Over 97 per cent backed the changes.
• I backed Kennedy in 1960.
• A mirror backed with tortoiseshell.
• My garage backs their yard.
• Back the car into the parking spot.
• The new single is backed with a track from the LP.
• I can't back this plan.
• On his new album he is backed by an American group.
• Which horse are you backing?
• The wind backed.
• I put the car in reverse and backed down the road.
• He backed the Mercedes into the yard.
• Can you back up your claims?
• The wind had backed to the north-west.
• Back into the driveway.

Back as an Adjective

Definitions of "Back" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “back” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• From or relating to the past.
• (of a sound) articulated at the back of the mouth.
• Located at or near the back of an animal.
• Of an earlier date.
• Directed towards the rear or in a reversed course.
• In a remote or subsidiary position.
• Of or at the back of something.
• Related to or located at the back.

Synonyms of "Back" as an adjective (13 Words)

dorsal	Belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part. The dorsal aorta.
earlier	Very young. His earlier work reflects the influence of his teacher.
former	(used especially of persons) of the immediate past. Former generations.
hind	Located at or near the back of an animal. The hinder part of a carcass.
hinder	Located at or near the back of an animal. The hinder part of a carcass.
hindmost	Located farthest to the rear. The hindmost attendant.
old	Used informally especially for emphasis old adj of a very early stage in development. Same old story.
out of date	Excluded from use or mention.
past	Earlier than the present time; no longer current. The past year.
posterior	Coming at a subsequent time or stage. The mood posterior to.
previous	Overhasty in acting. The previous occupant of the White House.
rear	Located in or toward the back or rear. The chair s rear legs.
rearmost	Located farthest to the rear. The rearmost door.

Usage Examples of "Back" as an adjective

• Back (or hind) legs.
• She was owed back pay.
• A long back vowel, as in 'dance' or 'bath.
• Back roads.
• Back issues of the magazine.
• The back yard.
• The back garden.
• A back header.
• The back entrance.
• The back pocket of his jeans.

Back as an Adverb

Definitions of "Back" as an adverb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “back” as an adverb can have the following definitions:

• So as to return to an earlier or normal position or condition.
• In or to or toward an original condition.
• In the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or travelling towards.
• At a place previously left or mentioned.
• Behind.
• In or to or toward a former location.
• Expressing movement of the body into a reclining position.
• In reply.
• Losing by a specified margin.
• At or to or toward the back or rear.
• Fashionable again.
• In return.
• At a distance away.
• In repayment or retaliation.
• In or to or toward a past time.
• In or into the past.

Synonyms of "Back" as an adverb (6 Words)

away	Out of the way especially away from one s thoughts. Ran away from the lion.
backward	In or to or toward a past time. Lovers of the past looking fondly backward.
backwards	In reverse of the usual direction or order. The tape rolled backwards.
behind one	Of timepieces.
rearward	At or to or toward the back or rear. She looked rearward out the window of the car.
rearwards	At or to or toward the back or rear.

Usage Examples of "Back" as an adverb

• He knew that other people were back of him.
• Sideburns are back.
• Sit back and relax.
• Never look back.
• Keep back from the roadside.
• Things were back to normal.
• The team was five points back.
• He leaned back in his chair.
• Lovers of the past looking fondly backward.
• She put the book back on the shelf.
• He made his fortune back in 1955.
• She walked away without looking back.
• He drove to Glasgow and back in a day.
• Tripped when he stepped backward.
• They wrote back to me.
• Set the clocks back an hour.
• The folks back home are counting on him.
• He moved back.
• He moved back a pace.

Associations of "Back" (30 Words)

anachronism	An artifact that belongs to another time. The town is a throwback to medieval times an anachronism that has survived the passing years.
backslide	Drop to a lower level, as in one’s morals or standards. There are many things that can cause slimmers to backslide.
backward	Reverting to an inferior state; retrograde. Tripped when he stepped backward.
backwards	(of an object’s motion) back towards the starting point. A step backwards for the economy.
behind	A kick that sends the ball over a behind line or a touch that sends it between the inner posts scoring one point. My watch is running behind.
degeneracy	The state or quality of being degenerate. Moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration.
degeneration	The process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality. Degeneration of the muscle fibres.
discontinuity	A break in or lack of continuity. There is no significant discontinuity between modern and primitive societies.
inverse	An element which, when combined with a given element in an operation, produces the identity element for that operation. The age of such a universe is simply the inverse of the Hubble constant.
later	Happening at a time subsequent to a reference time. He s going to the store but he ll be back here later.
posthumous	Occurring or coming into existence after a person’s death. He was awarded a posthumous Military Cross.
regress	Calculate the coefficient or coefficients of regression of a variable against or on another variable. The regress is a return to Puritan values.
regression	Returning to a former state. There was 46 7 per cent complete regression in the placebo group.
regressive	Adjusted so that the rate decreases as the amount of income increases. Indirect taxes are as a group regressive.
relapse	Return to (a less active or a worse state. He relapsed into silence.
restitution	The act of restoring something to its original state. Restitution of the damaged mucosa.
restoration	The restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France in 1814 following the fall of Napoleon Louis XVIII was recalled from exile by Talleyrand. The restoration of Andrew s sight.
retrace	Trace (something) back to its source or beginning. We retraced the route we took last summer.
retreat	Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity. A speedy retreat.
retrieval	The act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost. My retrieval of people s names is very poor.
retrieve	Run after, pick up, and bring to the master. Labradors are used to retrieve the birds after the flush.
retroactive	Descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on the effects of events or stimuli or process that occurred previously. Retroactive tax increase.
retrograde	Show retrograde motion. The retrograde form of these inscriptions.
retrogression	Passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form. A retrogression to 19th century attitudes.
retrospect	Contemplation of things past. A full retrospect of the battle.
retrospective	(of an exhibition or compilation) showing the development of an artist’s work over a period of time. A Georgia O Keeffe retrospective.
return	The key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed. His gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return.
reversion	A property to which someone has the right of reversion. There was some reversion to polytheism.
revert	Return to (a previous state, practice, topic, etc. We texted both Farah and Shirish but neither of them reverted.
throwback	An organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism. The eyes could be an ancestral throwback.