Definition Synonyms
Definition of backs - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun, plural
1.
medicalthe rear part of a person's body
- He felt a pain in his backs after lifting.
2.
sportsTECH. players positioned behind the forwards in a teamTECH.
- The backs played a crucial role in the match.
3.
supportRare supporters or people who provide helpRare
- The politician thanked his loyal backs for their support.
4.
furnitureRare the part of a chair you lean againstRare
- The backs of the chairs were carved with intricate designs.
5.
objectRare the side or part of something that is away from the observerRare
- The label is on the backs of the box.
Images of backs

the part of a chair you lean against
Expressions with backs
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
in a secretive way without someone's knowledge
They planned the surprise party behind the backs of their parents.
move aside or be careful because someone is passing
Mind your backs, please, I'm coming through with hot food!
support and protect each other in difficult situations
They always have each other's backs during tough times.
Origin of backs
Old English, bæc (back) + s (plural)
Terms with backs included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
games
jump over others' backs in a playful game
games
game where players jump over others' backs
advocate
person who backs or advocates for someone or something
positioning
positioned with backs facing each other
finance
financial instruments whose value determines or backs another financial product
sports
the defensive backs in football
sports
rugby player linking forwards and backs
rugby position
rugby player positioned between forwards and backs
sports
defensive football strategy using five defensive backs
botany
plant with leaves that sprout new plants on their backs
quitter
person who quits or backs out
unreliable person
person who frequently backs out of commitments
technology
computer server that supports or backs up a main server
Examples of backs in a sentence
The massage relieved tension in their backs. The backs coordinated well with the forwards. In rugby, the backs are crucial for defense. Her backs rallied to support her cause. The team relied on their backs for success. The backs of these chairs are adjustable.
Wooden backs can be quite uncomfortable. The backs of the chairs were painted red. Check the backs of the books for summaries.
View all translations of backs
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:dos, arrières, ...
- German:Rücken, Verteidiger, ...
- Italian:schiena, trequarti, ...
- Spanish:espalda, zagueros, ...
- Portuguese:costas, defesas, ...
- Chinese:背部, 后卫, ...
- Japanese:背中, バックス, ...
- Arabic:ظُهُور, اللّاعِبونَ الخَلْفِيّون, ...
- Hebrew:גַּבִּים, שַׂחְקָנֵי קַו אָחוֹרִי, ...
- Russian:спина, защитники, ...
- Ukrainian:спина, захисники, ...
- Hindi:पीठ, बैक खिलाड़ी, ...
Definition of back - Reverso English Dictionary
Adverb
1.
movementin a direction opposite to facing
- He stepped back to avoid the ball.
2.
returnto a previous condition or place
- She went back to her hometown.
3.
timetowards or in the past
- Thinking back, I remember the good times.
4.
distanceaway from someone or something
- She moved back from the edge.
5.
responsein a reciprocal manner
- She smiled back at him.
Noun
1.
medicalrear part of the human body from neck to spine
- He has a tattoo on his back.
2.
orientationside of an object opposite the front
- The back of the book is torn.
3.
sportsposition behind most players in sports
- He plays as a back in the team.
4.
extra supportsupport or resource in reserve
- She always has her family's back.
5.
furniturepart of a chair you lean against
- The chair's back is very comfortable.
6.
barRare US non-alcoholic drink with hard liquorRare US
- He ordered a whiskey with a water back.
Adjective
1.
positionlocated at or near the rear
- The back door was left open.
2.
directiondirected or moving backward
- He took a few back steps..
3.
restoredreturned to a previous state
- The system is back online after the outage.
4.
moneyoverdue or in arrears
- She has back payments on her loan.
5.
remoteUK situated away from main areasUK
- They live in a back village far from the city.
6.
phoneticsTECH. produced with the tongue positioned toward the rear of the mouthTECH.
- The vowel in 'caught' is a back vowel.
7.
timeRare not current or outdatedRare
- He wore a back style from the 80s.
Verb
1.
motionintr. move in the reverse directionintr.
- The car began to back slowly.
2.
supporttr. support or endorsetr.
- She decided to back the new proposal at the meeting..
3.
gamblingtr. bet money ontr.
- He likes to back the underdogs in horse races..
4.
movementtr. push or force backwardstr.
- He backed the chair against the wall.
5.
locationintr. lie behind and share a boundary with somethingintr.
- The garden backs the old house.
6.
maritimeintr. change direction contrary to normal patternintr.
- The wind began to back unexpectedly.
7.
furnishtr. Rare make a back for somethingtr. Rare
- She backed the quilt with soft fabric.
Images of back

part of a chair you lean against
Expressions with back
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
move backward into something
She accidentally backed into the garage door.
reverse a vehicle from a confined space
She had to back out of the narrow driveway.
reassembled into a whole
The broken vase is back together now.
move backwards, especially to allow more space
The truck had to back up to fit in the parking space..
return to a previous place or state
She decided to go back to her hometown.
moving repeatedly between two places
She paced back and forth in the room.
the part of the hand opposite the palm
He has a tattoo on the back of his hand.
physically positioned on someone's back
The child was on his father's back during the hike.
located or carried on the rear surface of someone or something
The child sat on the back of the bike.
change the time to an earlier hour
We need to put the clock back this weekend.
sit on and be carried on another person's back
The child loved to ride her father's back.
some time ago in the past
I met him a while back at the conference.
reply rudely to someone in authority
He was punished for answering back to the teacher.
take a less aggressive position in a conflict
He decided to back down to avoid a fight.
restore physical fitness after inactivity
She worked hard to back into shape after the injury.
rear section of a bus for passengers
She always sits at the back of the bus.
move backwards away from something
The dog started to back off when I approached.
returning to normal life after a setback
After the divorce, she took time to get back on her feet.
resuming normal progress
The team is back on track after the break.
have the rear side facing or overlooking something
The house backs onto a beautiful park.
give help or support to a person
I will back you up if you need me.
in secret without someone's knowledge
They planned the surprise party behind my back.
without someone's knowledge or permission
They planned the surprise party behind her back.
in secret without someone's knowledge
They planned the surprise party behind her back.
Origin of back
Old English, bæc (back) + -ward (direction)
Examples of back in a sentence
The dog jumped back from the firework. He turned back after realizing he forgot his keys. The cat came back after a week of wandering. Looking back, I see my mistakes. Back in those days, life was simpler. He stepped back to admire the painting.
The dog jumped back when the cat hissed. He waved back from the train. The company called back within an hour. She felt a sharp pain in her back. The massage focused on his lower back. The back of the painting was covered in dust. He leaned against the back of the chair, relaxing. The coach selected her at back. A back stopped the late attack. He knew he had his team's back in the competition. With her friends' back, she felt invincible. The back of the chair was elegantly carved. She leaned against the back for support. The bartender served rum with a ginger ale back. Could I get a soda back with my bourbon? The back seats were reserved for the staff. He parked the car in the back lot. She gave a back glance before leaving. The car made a sudden back movement. The old charm of the house is back. The website is back to its original design. The tenant paid three months of back rent. The company cleared its back taxes before the audit. They found a back road leading to the cabin. The back alley was rarely visited by tourists. The 'o' in 'dog' is a back vowel. Linguists study back vowels in various languages. The shop still sells back issues of the magazine. Her back ideas no longer suit the company. Please back away from the edge. The truck backed into the loading bay. The senator decided to back the new environmental bill. Many fans back the team despite their recent losses. She decided to back her favorite team in the finals. Many people back the winning horse without much thought. The car backed into the driveway. She backed away from the aggressive dog. The garage backs onto a narrow alley. Our house backs a beautiful park. The ship had to back to avoid the storm. Sailors noticed the wind starting to back. The upholsterer backed the chair with sturdy canvas. They backed the curtain with a thick lining.
View all translations of back
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:en arrière, dos, ...
- German:zurück, Rücken, ...
- Italian:indietro, schiena, ...
- Spanish:hacia atrás, espalda, ...
- Portuguese:para trás, costas, ...
- Chinese:向后, 背部, ...
- Japanese:後ろに, 背中, ...
- Arabic:إلى الوَراء, ظَهْر, ...
- Hebrew:אָחוֹרָה, גַּב, ...
- Russian:назад, спина, ...
- Ukrainian:назад, спина, ...
- Hindi:पीछे, पीठ, ...
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