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- Top 1000
Sense 1
- noun
- A1
The part of the body that runs from the neck down to the hips, on the side opposite the chest and stomach.
I hurt my back lifting a heavy box of books.
She lay on her back and watched the clouds drift past.
The rucksack straps rubbed against my back for hours.
Common collocations: lower back · back pain · lie on your back · a bad back · turn your back on someone
Part of: Parts of the body
Sense 2
- adverb
- A1
To or into the place, position or state that someone or something was in before.
Please put the keys back in the drawer when you finish.
He walked back home because the last bus had gone.
She looked back over her shoulder and waved once.
Common collocations: come back · go back · give something back · put something back · call somebody back
Part of: Directions
Sense 3 · less common
- adjective
- A2
At or near the part of something that is furthest from the front.
We always leave through the back door after closing time.
The children argued about who would sit in the back seat.
We sat in the back row and could hardly hear.
Common collocations: the back door · the back seat · the back row · the back garden · a back street
Part of: Directions, Means of transport
Sense 4 · less common
- verb
- B1
To give help, money or open support to a person, plan or idea.
Most of the team backed her plan without any real discussion.
The city backed the project with money from local taxes.
I will back you whatever the committee finally decides.
Common collocations: back a plan · back a candidate · back a project · widely backed · back somebody up
Part of: Attitudes and opinions, Talking to people