From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbackback1 /bæk/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1 return to placeRETURNRETURN in, into, or to the place or position where someone or something was before I’ll be back in a minute. Put that book back where you found it!back in/to/into etc Rory plugged the cable back into the socket. I feel like going back to bed.go/get/head etc back We ought to try and get back before it gets dark. He was back home by half past eleven. It’s possible to travel there and back in a day.Grammar• You go back to a place: We decided to go back to Athens.I’m going back to school tomorrow.• You go back home: It’s time to go back home. ✗Don’t say: go back to home2 AS BEFOREPASTas before in or into the condition or situation you were in before Gary woke at 4 am and couldn’t get back to sleep. It took me a long time to get my confidence back. If you decide to marry him, there will be no going back (=you will not be able to get back to your previous situation).go/get back to (doing) something There’s no way I’m going back to being poor. It’ll take a while for things to get back to normal.3 HOME TOWNTOWNprevious place in or to a place where you lived or worked beforeback in/at She was the one who had fired him from his first job back in South Africa.back home (=in the place that you come from and think of as your home) It reminded me of evenings back home.4 NOT FORWARDSBEHINDbackwards in the opposite direction from the way you are facing OPP forwards He glanced back at the house. Kirov stepped back a pace. She tilted her head back to look at him.5 REPLYANSWER/REPLYreply/reaction if you do something back, you do it as a reply or reaction to what someone has said or done Can I call you back later? I’ll pay you back on Friday. ‘No, thanks!’ he shouted back. If he hits you, you just hit him back. 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 Can we have our ball back, please? I want all my books back as soon as you’ve finished with them. Give me back that letter! It’s none of your business!7 THE PASTPASTin the past in or towards a time in the past a pile of newspapers dating back to the 1970s A lot of emotional problems can be traced back to childhood. Looking back on it, I should have known he was unhappy. At times, I think back to my life in Moscow.back in The house was built back in 1235.three years/two months etc back (=three years etc ago) His wife died a couple of years back. He called me a while back.8 AGAINagain once again Go back over your work to check for any mistakes. Liverpool were back level again two minutes later with a superb goal.9 → sit/lie/lean back10 AWAY FROM somethingMOVE something OR somebodyaway away from a surface, person, or thing She pulled the bandage back very carefully. Her hair was brushed back from her face. The woman nodded and stood back, allowing Patrick to enter.11 → back and forth12 BOOKTOWARDStowards beginning towards the beginning of a book, film, or computer document etc Turn back to the summaries at the end of section 1.5. Clicking on the icon will take you back to the previous web page. Wind the tape back to the beginning.
Examples from the Corpus
back• If a starfish loses a leg, it grows back.• If Jamie rings, tell him I'll call him back.• That's mine! Give it back!• Gradually, the children came trickling back.• It took me a year and a half to come back.• I left a message, but I haven't heard anything back.• Then she turns on her heel, comes back, and demands to know why N J stood her up.• He stepped back and fell.• Michelle looked back at him over her shoulder and smiled.• I was making $15 an hour back at the hospital.• Some time during the afternoon they decided not to go back but to stay overnight.• Play the tape back for me, okay?• Carol yelled back, "If it's so easy, you come and have a go!''• He'd tried to study it back in the Store.• I should be back in time for dinner.• Can you call me back later?• I lay back like a king lion and let her romp.• He was too wet and cold to think about going back out into the rain.• He looked back over his shoulder.• She left home in 1995 and hasn't been back since.• It helps when I have the option to go back to defense.• I stepped back to let them pass.• I woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep.• It was a beautiful day, so I decided to walk back to the office.• It's time I got back to work.• I'll have to get back to you on that.• Do you think Ron and his wife will get back together?• I'll check back with you sometime next week.there and back• "How far is it to Milwaukee?" "It's about 30 miles there and back."• How long will it take to drive there and back?• It only takes four hours, there and back.• About eighty miles up there and back?• Besides, she would not be alone - only on the journey there and back.• I ran all the way there and back.• It took me no more than five minutes there and back.• In six months, could both passages, there and back, be effected?• To climb up to it takes time nine or ten hours to get there and back - but no special skill or nerve.• Air transport there and back guaranteed: same day.• What they called married back there and back then.go/get back to (doing) something• He wouldn't go back to bed.• Then Leo went back to Harvard.• He went back to his room and closed the door.• The company has had to go back to its pre-poll tax database, known as the Historic Voters Roll.• All they seemed interested in was guzzling platefuls of sausages and going back to the counter for more.• I can't get back to the garret until tomorrow.• No, don't go back to the house, Jane, on such a lovely night. back home• A fantasy, but a lovely one, and one that she would miss when she went back home.• He's glad to be back home.• He would tell Odysseus how to get back home.• The Plot Every day, Johnny took his three goats to pasture and then back home.• She had graduated from a Lutheran Bible college back home, and at one time she had seriously considered becoming a nun.• I was hoping there was, cos it's about time I got back home - it's getting pretty late.• He was back home, showered, changed and in bed by eleven forty-five.• They are moving back home to Arizona, back home to Oregon, back home to Tennessee.a while back• But I think you were right, a while back.• He did mention it a while back.• I should have transferred to pastoral a while back.• Worse than that, in a way, was the butter one a while back.• You were icy a while back.backback2 ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 BODYpart of your body a) HBHHBAthe part of the body between the neck and legs, on the opposite side to the stomach and chest The cat arched its back and hissed. My feet were sore and my back was aching. Keep your head up and your back straight. To avoid back problems, always bend your knees when you lift heavy objects. He lay on his back and gazed at the ceiling. Johnny was lying flat on his back in the middle of the floor. Anna stood with her back to the window.on somebody’s back (=carried on someone’s back) The girl appeared again, now with a little baby on her back. b) the bones between your neck and the top of your legs SYN spine He broke his back in a motorbike accident.2 PARTBACK OF somethingnot at front [usually singular] the part of something that is furthest from the front OPP front a T-shirt with a picture of a snake on the backback of He kissed her on the back of her head. Her window faced the backs of the houses.in the back (of something) (=used especially about the back of a vehicle) Two men were sitting in the back of the car.at the back (of something) a small shop with an office at the backin back (of something) American English (=in or at the back of something) Kids should always wear seat belts, even in back.out back American English (=behind a house or other building) Tom’s working on the car out back.round/out the back British English (=behind a house or building) Have you looked round the back?3 SURFACEBACK OF somethingless important side [usually singular] the less important side or surface of something such as a piece of paper or card OPP front Paul scribbled his address on the back of an envelope. The credits are listed on the back of the album.4 CHAIRDHFBACK OF somethingpart of seat the part of a seat that you lean against when you are sittingback of He rested his arm on the back of the sofa.5 BOOK/NEWSPAPERTCNBACK OF somethingbook/newspaper [usually singular] the last pages of a book or newspaper OPP frontat the back (of) The sports pages are usually at the back.in the back (of) The answers are in the back of the book. 6 → at/in the back of your mind7 → back to back8 → back to front9 → behind somebody’s back10 → when/while somebody’s back is turned11 → get/put somebody’s back up12 → get (somebody) off somebody’s back13 → be on somebody’s back14 → on the back of something15 → on the backs of somebody16 FOOTBALL ETCDSsports a defending player in a sports team SYN defender17 → the back of beyond18 → be (flat) on your back19 → put your back into it20 → be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something21 → have your back to/against the wall22 → at your back23 → on your back24 → high-backed/straight-backed/low-backed etc → know something like the back of your hand at know1(3), → turn your back on somebody/something at turn1(7)Examples from the Corpus
back• And lately, our defensive backs have responded with interceptions.• She had her hands tied behind her back.• The cat wanted her back rubbed.• Megan has some trouble with her back.• The autopsy report said Woldemariam was shot twice in the back.• Cashmere sports jackets hung on the back of their chairs, insurance against an encounter with air-conditioning.• What's written on the back?• The Leader and the thin man were seated on a pile of saddles and saddle-bags with their backs against the wall.• Martha came forward to help, and Miss Mary looked carefully at Colin's thin white back, up and down.round/out the back• Anna did not go to the front door but round the back.• I moved through the kitchen, peering out the back door before I exited.• In the front door, with their nasty trunks probing into everything, and I shoo them out the back.• Mariana mimed a lean-to round the back.• The outbuilding used as a mortuary was round the back.• He went round the back of the house and inspected the incinerator, now full of partly glowing but mainly black ashes.• Fogarty finished his double rye and Jack swigged the last of his coffee royal, and they went out the back door.in the back (of)• Michael kicked him in the back, the force of the blow sending Tommy across the dirt-strewn floor.• They argued, and Jimmy was slugged in the stomach, pushed to the ground and kicked in the back.• He puts me in the back seat with my coat over my knees.• You can get shot in the back.• Hector sits in the back seat of the front row, nearest the door.• He was shot twice in the back of the head while sitting in a cafe.• As he spoke a cab appeared, a grimy little robot jitney with the other Twin in the back.• They give a proud tour of the five-bedroom country home set way in the back of a gated development. backback3 ●●● S2 W3 verb 1 SUPPORTsupport [transitive]SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN a) to support someone or something, especially by giving them money or using your influence The scheme has been backed by several major companies in the region. Some suspected that the rebellion was backed and financed by the US. government-backed loans b) (also back up) to support an idea by providing facts, proof etc His claims are not backed by any scientific evidence.► see thesaurus at supportGrammar Back is usually passive in this meaning.2 MOVE somebodymove backwards [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]BACK/BACKWARDS to move backwards, or make someone or something move backwardsback into/out of/away from etc She backed into a doorway to let the crowds pass by.back somebody into/towards/out of etc something He began to back her towards the open door.back something into/towards/out of etc something I backed the car into the garage.3 BACK SURFACEput something on the back [transitive]CSPUT to put a material or substance onto the back of something, in order to protect it or make it stronger The photograph is backed with cardboard. a plastic-backed shower curtainGrammar Back is usually passive in this meaning.4 BE BEHINDbe behind something [transitive]BACK OF something to be at the back of something or behind it The Jandia Peninsula is a stretch of white sands backed by a mountain range.Grammar Back is usually passive in this meaning.5 MUSICmusic [transitive]APM to play or sing the music that supports the main singer or musician They performed all their hits, backed by a 40-piece orchestra.Grammar Back is usually passive in this meaning. 6 HORSE/DOG RACErisk money [transitive]DGG to risk money on whether a particular horse, dog, team etc wins something7 → back the wrong horse → back away → back down → back off → back onto something → back out → back up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
back• We backed a horse named Travelling Light that finished first at 10-1.• Uncle Barry backed Arsenal to win the FA Cup.• The stage was backed by a light blue curtain.• There is no known cure but the illness can be treated - by medication backed by practical and caring support.• The three tenors were backed by the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.• The plans for a new shopping mall are backed by the city council.• The crime bill is backed by the Democrats.• In the end Krushchev backed down and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.• Which team did you back for the Super Bowl?• I wouldn't park there -- it's going to be very difficult to back out again.• I backed the car into the garage and walked round to the front door of the boarding house.• Several major insurance companies have agreed to back the healthcare reforms.• Morris carefully backed the truck into the shed.back something into/towards/out of etc something• A pickup truck backs slowly out of a space and taps the bumper of a nearby minivan.• Angelita, announcing that she will be right back, walks out of the room.• He backed slowly out of the room, which had become hers.• She nods her head, steps back a step out of the way of him spreading toward her white shoes.• Then, without waiting for yes, no, or another bout of silence, he backed quickly out of the library.• They remained aloof from the front row out of disdain and from the back row out of a sense of responsibility.• You can back yourself out of the room that way.backback4 ●●● S2 W3 adjective [only before noun] 1 BACK OF somethingat or in the back of something OPP front You’ll be sleeping in the back bedroom. Turn to the back page. I keep my keys in my back pocket. There was the sound of giggling from the back row. The rabbit had one of its back legs caught in a trap. → back door2 BEHINDbehind something, especially a building OPP front the back garden We left by the back gate.3 BACK OF somethingfrom the back The back view of the hotel was even less appealing than the front.4 → back street/lane/road etc5 → back rent/taxes/pay etc6 → back issue/copy/number7 SL technical a back vowel sound is made by lifting your tongue at the back of your mouthExamples from the Corpus
back• It allows the vehicle to manoeuvre without tearing itself apart on the back axle.• Capshaw sent him out the back door to avoid whoever it was keeping guard in the front.• The burglars broke into the house through the back door.• Yet it will soak up heavy bumps that would otherwise bounce the back end off the ground.• They waited by the back entrance.• The car was later found parked on a back parking lot of the complex.• You can put your suitcase on the back seat of the car.• The kids should sit in the back seat.• a back view• the back wall of the factory• I took the back way out of town.From Longman Business Dictionarybackback /bæk/ verb [transitive]1to support someone or something, especially by giving money or using your influenceThe board backed Mr Standley, who plans to cut costs.Shareholders have backed a plan to build a second plant.2FINANCE if SECURITIES are backed by particular assets, they are supported by income from themThis new generation of securities is backed by aircraft leases, royalty streams from films, student loans and auto loans. → see also asset-backed security under security → back something → up→ See Verb tableOrigin back2 Old English bæc 