back
back — verb
1. to publicly say you agree with a person, plan, or idea, or to give them money so
to publicly say you agree with a person, plan, or idea, or to give them money so they can succeed.
Three local banks agreed to back Xander's small bakery with a loan.
back + business: financial support
Most teachers in the school backed the new lunch program for poor students.
back + plan: public approval
Her parents backed her decision to study music in Vienna.
The mayor refused to back the protest after seeing the broken windows.
A wealthy uncle is backing the young singer's first album.
文法句型
back + noun (person/plan/proposal)
用法筆記
Object is usually a person, plan, project, candidate, or business. Distinguish from sense 3 (MOVE BACKWARDS): only this sense takes an idea or proposal as object.
常見錯誤
2. to put money on a horse, team, or player, hoping they win so that you receive mo
to put money on a horse, team, or player, hoping they win so that you receive more money than you spent.
Otto backed a grey horse called Lucky Star and won fifty pounds.
back + horse name
Many fans backed Brazil to win the World Cup that summer.
back + team + to-infinitive
I never back the favourite because the prize money is too small.
Old men sat in the corner of the pub, backing horses on their phones.
- bet on
more common in everyday speech
- wager on
more formal or written
- stake money on
emphasises the amount risked
文法句型
back + horse/team/player
用法筆記
Common in British English in horse racing and football contexts. Object is the competitor, not the event itself: you back a horse, not a race.
常見錯誤
3. to move in reverse, with the rear part going first, or to make a vehicle or anim
to move in reverse, with the rear part going first, or to make a vehicle or animal do this.
Nikolai slowly backed the truck into the narrow garage.
back + vehicle + into: reversing
The boy backed away from the angry dog without turning around.
intransitive: back away from
Please back your chair a little so I can open the drawer.
The thief backed slowly out of the shop, watching the door.
Wairimu backed her bicycle off the path to let the runners pass.
- advance
to move forward, often with purpose
文法句型
back + noun + into/out of/away from
back + adverb (away, up)
用法筆記
Almost always used with a direction word (away, up, into, out of, off). Bare 'back the car' alone is rare; speakers usually add 'up' or a destination.
常見錯誤
4. to attach a layer of cloth, paper, or other material to an object's rear side so
to attach a layer of cloth, paper, or other material to an object's rear side so it becomes stronger or thicker.
The old map was backed with thin cotton cloth to keep it from tearing.
passive: be backed with + material
Wairimu backed each photograph with stiff card before putting it in the album.
back + object + with + material
The picture frame was backed with brown paper and a small wire hook.
Workers backed the wooden boards with metal sheets to make the door safer.
文法句型
be backed with/by + material
用法筆記
Frequently passive. The pattern is 'X is backed with Y', where Y is the added layer. Distinguish from sense 1 (SUPPORT): this sense never takes a person as object.
常見錯誤
back — noun
1. for an object, room, or building, the side that lies farthest from its face, ent
for an object, room, or building, the side that lies farthest from its face, entrance, or display side — for example, the rear wall of a classroom, the boot of a car, or the reverse of a printed page.
Mei wrote her phone number on the back of the receipt.
the back of [paper/object]
The children sat at the back of the school bus and waved at us.
at the back of [vehicle/room]
There is a small garden at the back of our house.
The recipe is printed on the back of the cereal box.
Nikolai found the index in the back of the textbook.
- front
the directly opposite area
文法句型
the back of [something]
at the back
用法筆記
Frequently appears with the prepositions 'at', 'in', 'on', or 'to', and almost always with 'the'. Distinguish from sense 6 (body part): this sense is about objects and places, not anatomy.
常見錯誤
2. in the phrase 'back to back', describing two people or things positioned with th
in the phrase 'back to back', describing two people or things positioned with their rear sides touching or pointing toward each other, so they face away in opposite directions.
The twins stood back to back so their mother could measure who was taller.
stand back to back
Xander and her sister sat back to back on the rug, leaning against each other.
sit back to back
The two soldiers fought back to back to defend each other from every direction.
Place the two sofas back to back to divide the living room into two zones.
- rear to rear
rare; only in technical descriptions
- face to face
describes two people or things turned toward each other
文法句型
stand/sit back to back
用法筆記
Always used as the fixed phrase 'back to back', not as a single noun. Distinguish from sense 3 ('back-to-back' meaning consecutive in time): this sense is about physical position.
常見錯誤
3. in the phrase 'back to back', used when several events, games, or activities fol
in the phrase 'back to back', used when several events, games, or activities follow each other directly with no gap or pause in between.
Daniel had three meetings back to back and barely had time for lunch.
[events] back to back
Our team won two championships back to back in 2024 and 2025.
win [titles] back to back
The cinema played both films back to back, so the show ended at midnight.
Wairimu worked four shifts back to back at the cafe over the weekend.
- consecutive
more formal, typically used as an adjective before the noun
- in a row
informal; same idea, more conversational
- spaced out
with breaks or gaps between events
文法句型
[event] back to back
用法筆記
Used as an adverbial phrase after the noun or verb. Distinguish from sense 2 (physical position): here 'back to back' refers to time order, not orientation.
常見錯誤
4. in the phrase 'back to front', describing clothing or an object that has been pu
in the phrase 'back to front', describing clothing or an object that has been put on or arranged the wrong way round, so that the rear side is now pointing forward.
Otto realised at school that he had put his sweater on back to front.
put on [clothing] back to front
The toddler wore his shoes back to front and giggled at his clumsy steps.
wear [shoes] back to front
Wairimu hung the painting back to front by mistake and only noticed at dinner.
Dad had his cap on back to front, just like the kids on the skateboard team.
- backwards
common in American English for the same meaning
- the wrong way round
informal British phrase with the same meaning
- the right way round
with the front facing forward as intended
文法句型
wear/put on [clothing] back to front
用法筆記
More common in British English; American speakers often say 'backwards' instead. Distinguish from sense 2 ('back to back'): that describes two things, this describes one item turned the wrong way.
常見錯誤
5. the upper, outer surface of a hand — the side opposite the palm, where you can u
the upper, outer surface of a hand — the side opposite the palm, where you can usually see knuckles, veins, and sometimes hair.
Xander wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand.
the back of [your] hand
The nurse pressed the back of her hand against the baby's forehead to feel for fever.
press the back of [one's] hand against
A small mosquito landed on the back of Ben's hand during the picnic.
Grandma kissed the back of my hand and smiled warmly.
文法句型
the back of [your] hand
用法筆記
Almost always appears as 'the back of [someone's] hand'. Common in idioms about familiarity ('know it like the back of your hand'), though that idiom is listed separately.
常見錯誤
6. in people and many animals, the area behind the chest and stomach that runs from
in people and many animals, the area behind the chest and stomach that runs from the shoulders down to the hips, with the spine forming its central support.
Nikolai hurt his back lifting a heavy box at work yesterday.
hurt [one's] back
The little girl rode on her father's back through the shallow river.
on [someone's] back
Aunt Rosa lay on her back in the grass and watched the clouds drift by.
The horse had a long white stripe down its back.
Xander scratched her back against the rough bark of the tree.
文法句型
[someone's] back
on [one's] back
用法筆記
Often takes a possessive ('my back', 'his back'). Subject of many fixed expressions about effort or burden ('break your back', 'turn your back on'). Distinguish from sense 1 (rear of objects): this sense is anatomical only.
常見錯誤
7. the area between your shoulders and waist when you are talking about hurting, st
the area between your shoulders and waist when you are talking about hurting, straining, or damaging that body region — for example, after lifting something heavy or sitting badly for a long time.
Otto injured his back trying to lift a heavy box of books up the stairs.
collocation: injure / hurt + one's back
The nurse warned Grandma that gardening on her knees might damage her back.
Wairimu strained her back during the volleyball match and missed the next game.
Sitting at the office desk for ten hours has done something terrible to my back.
The builder twisted his back lifting bags of cement off the truck.
- spine
the bony column itself; narrower and more clinical than back
- lower back
the region most often strained by lifting
文法句型
hurt/injure/strain + one's back
do + something + to one's back
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 6 (the general body-part name): this sense focuses on the back as the place that is hurt or strained, and almost always appears with a verb of injury such as hurt, injure, strain, twist, pull, or damage.
常見錯誤
8. in football and similar team sports, a player whose job is to stay near their ow
in football and similar team sports, a player whose job is to stay near their own goal and prevent opponents from putting the ball into the net, rather than attacking.
Diego plays at right back for the school football team and rarely lets a winger past him.
pattern: play (at) + [position] back
The coach moved Hannah from midfield to centre back after the injury.
collocation: centre back / left back / right back
Liverpool's left back made a perfect tackle just outside the penalty area.
A good back reads the game and stops attackers before they reach the goal.
Nikolai was the youngest back on the pitch but he marked the striker brilliantly.
文法句型
play (at) back
be a back
left/right/centre + back
用法筆記
Almost always appears with a position word in front of it (left, right, centre, full). Subject is typically a named player or a club. Distinguish from sense 9, which refers to a position behind the line of scrimmage in American football and rugby.
常見錯誤
9. in rugby, or American-style football, a player who starts each play well behind
in rugby, or American-style football, a player who starts each play well behind the forwards — usually a quick runner expected to carry or pass the ball.
Tyler is the fastest back on the rugby team and almost always scores from open field.
subject is a named player + back as a position
The Eagles' running back broke through the defence for a forty-yard touchdown.
collocation: running back
Rugby backs need quick feet, sharp passing, and the courage to tackle bigger forwards.
Coach Reeves moved Jamal from quarterback to halfback last season.
Ohio State's young back caught the ball and sprinted past two defenders.
- running back
American football: a back whose main job is to run with the ball
- halfback
rugby / older football term: a back close to the scrum or line
文法句型
play (in the) backs
the backs
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 8: that sense is a defender in football / soccer; this sense is a position behind the line in American football or rugby, where the role often includes running and passing the ball. Common compounds: running back, halfback, fullback, quarterback.
常見錯誤
10. the upright piece on a chair, sofa, or bench that supports your shoulders and sp
the upright piece on a chair, sofa, or bench that supports your shoulders and spine while you are seated.
Mei hung her wet jacket over the back of the wooden kitchen chair.
pattern: the back of + [chair]
The old armchair has a soft padded back that makes long reading easy.
Dad leaned against the back of the sofa and closed his tired eyes.
The carpenter carved a pattern of leaves into the back of every dining chair.
This office chair has a high back to support your shoulders during long meetings.
- seat
the flat part you sit on, opposite the back
文法句型
the back of + [chair / sofa / bench]
[adjective]-backed + [chair]
用法筆記
Subject is typically a piece of furniture with a built-in support (chair, sofa, bench, armchair). Often appears in compound adjectives such as high-backed, straight-backed, padded-back. Distinguish from sense 1 (the rear part of an object): the back of a chair is its support, not its rear face.
常見錯誤
back — adjective
1. located in the part of a place, building, or vehicle that is opposite the front,
located in the part of a place, building, or vehicle that is opposite the front, or further from the main road, town, or busy area.
Xander planted tomatoes and herbs in the back garden every spring.
attributive: back + noun (garden, door, room)
The cat slipped out through the back door before anyone noticed.
Two shy students always sat in the back row of the classroom.
Grandma Lin keeps her old photo albums on a back shelf in the closet.
We took a quiet back road to avoid the traffic near the stadium.
- front
directly opposite: front door, front row
文法句型
back + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive). You cannot say 'the garden is back' to mean rear-located; use 'at the back' instead.
常見錯誤
2. describes money such as rent, wages, or taxes that someone still owes because th
describes money such as rent, wages, or taxes that someone still owes because the deadline for paying it has already passed.
The tenants finally paid two months of back rent in November.
collocation: back rent / back taxes / back wages
Mr. Alvarez owes the city nearly five thousand dollars in back taxes.
The factory workers are demanding three weeks of back pay from their boss.
Sasha used her bonus to cover the back interest on her student loan.
- overdue
broader; can describe library books, bills, or any late payment
- outstanding
formal; used for unpaid debts or invoices
- unpaid
neutral; emphasizes that no payment has been made yet
- current
describes payments that are up to date
文法句型
back + payment-noun (rent, taxes, wages, pay)
用法筆記
Used only before money-related nouns (rent, taxes, wages, pay, interest). Don't use it to mean 'paid in the past' — the key meaning is that the payment is late.
常見錯誤
back — adverb
1. to the place, situation, or time where someone or something used to be — for exa
to the place, situation, or time where someone or something used to be — for example, returning home, putting an item where it belongs, or restoring an earlier condition.
Xander put the book back on the top shelf when she finished reading.
verb + back + on/in [location] for returning to original spot
After ten years in Tokyo, Otto moved back to his hometown in Italy.
move/go/come + back to + [place]
The power came back on at midnight after the storm passed.
Dad painted the old chair back to its original color last weekend.
Wairimu drove back to the office because she had forgotten her laptop.
- again
'again' marks repetition; 'back' marks return to a prior state or place
- forward
of motion only; not a true opposite for the time/state senses
文法句型
verb + back to/from [place]
verb + back + adverb
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (FURTHER AWAY): this sense always implies returning to a known earlier point (place, state, or time), while sense 5 is purely directional with no prior reference point.
常見錯誤
2. as a response to what someone has done to you — paying, giving, or doing somethi
as a response to what someone has done to you — paying, giving, or doing something equal in exchange, including kindness or revenge.
Nikolai paid his sister back the fifty dollars she had lent him last month.
pay + somebody + back + amount for repayment
When the older boy pushed him, Tomas pushed him back without a word.
verb + somebody + back for retaliation
Aunt Rosa always sends a small gift back whenever a neighbor brings her food.
I want to thank her properly and one day pay her kindness back.
- in return
more formal phrasing of the same idea
文法句型
verb + somebody + back
give/pay/hit + back
用法筆記
Often follows verbs of giving, paying, or hitting. The exchange may be positive (a gift, a favour) or negative (revenge, a punch). Distinguish from sense 3, which is specifically about verbal replies.
常見錯誤
3. as an answer to a message, call, or question — used when someone responds after
as an answer to a message, call, or question — used when someone responds after the first person has already spoken or written.
Please call me back when you finish the meeting at four.
call + somebody + back for returning a phone call
Dr. Tomás emailed back within an hour to confirm the appointment.
email/write + back for replying to a message
When the teacher asked who broke the window, nobody answered back.
Lisa shouted hello, and her younger brother shouted back from the garden.
- in reply
more formal; written contexts
文法句型
verb + back + (to somebody)
call/write/email + back
用法筆記
Common with verbs of communication: call, email, write, shout, answer, text. Differs from sense 2 in that the exchange is verbal or written, not an action or payment.
常見錯誤
4. at an earlier point in time, often a long time ago — used to talk about events,
at an earlier point in time, often a long time ago — used to talk about events, memories, or recordings from the past.
Back in 1995, my grandparents bought this little house by the river.
back in + [year] for placing an event in the past
We watched the football match back later that evening on the recording.
watch/play + back for reviewing a recording
Two weeks back, the school organized a trip to the science museum.
Grandma still talks about her wedding day, way back in the spring of 1962.
- ago
more neutral; preferred in writing for time periods
- previously
formal; written register
文法句型
back + in [year/period]
[time period] + back
用法筆記
With recordings (watch back, play back, listen back), it specifically means reviewing media after the live event. The pattern '[time period] back' is informal — 'two weeks back' is common in speech, but 'two weeks ago' is preferred in writing.
常見錯誤
5. in a direction away from the front or away from something close, so that the per
in a direction away from the front or away from something close, so that the person or thing is now further from it.
Please stand back from the yellow line until the train stops.
stand/step + back + from + [thing] for moving away
The artist stepped back to look at the whole painting from a distance.
step back for gaining perspective
The small village sits back from the main road, hidden by tall trees.
Sit back in your chair, Wairimu, and try to relax for a moment.
- forward
direct opposite of direction
文法句型
verb + back + (from [thing])
stand/step/sit + back
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply returning to an earlier place — the subject simply ends up further from a reference point. Frequently with stand, step, sit, lean, pull.