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Definition back in British English

back adverb

adverb
/bæk/
1

in the direction that is behind you

Example

Don't look back, but there's a man following us.

Example

He asked us to move back a few yards.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
1.1

in a position where your back is leaning backwards

Example

She leant back in her chair.

Example

I'm going to sit back and read the paper for a while.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
2

away from someone or something, especially because they are dangerous

Example

Get back - he's got a gun!

Example

Everybody stand back while I light the fire.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
2.1

away from an original position or place

Example

Peel this label back to see if you have won a prize.

Example

The band started playing as the curtain slowly went back.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
2.2

away from your face

Example

Her hair was tied back in a ponytail.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
Example

I'm never going back home.

Example

Put those CDs back where you found them.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
Example

We're hoping things will be back to normal again soon.

Example

I couldn't get back to sleep.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
Example

Can we go back to what we were talking about earlier?

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
4

as a reply to someone

Example

Jane phoned, and I said you'd phone her back later.

Example

'Have you any idea where we are?' 'No', Dan shouted back.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
4.1

doing the same thing to someone as they have done to you

Example

He punched me, so I punched him back.

Example

Geoff was staring back at me in disbelief.

Synonyms and related words
vengeful retaliatory back
5

used for talking about a period of time in the past

Example

Back in the '70s, disco music was very popular.

Example

She had a minor operation a few years back.

Example

Things were different back then.

Synonyms and related words
past ago previously
5.1

to a period of time in the past

Example

Think back: don't you remember anything?

Synonyms and related words
past ago previously
5.2

to an earlier time on a clock or watch

Example

Don't forget to set the clocks back an hour tonight.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
6

in a place that you have mentioned before, but that is different from the one you have just been talking about

Example

Back at the hospital, the baby had just been born.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
6.1

used for talking about a place where you live or work or used to live or work when you are in a different place

Example

I have no idea what's going on back home.

Example

Back in Spain, we used to spend summer in the mountains.

7

towards the beginning of something such as a journey or a book

Example

You should have got off three stops back.

Example

Go back a couple of pages.

Synonyms and related words
back evenly just
Definition back in British English

Related Words

Words related to back:

answer back (phrasal verb) back (adverb) back (adjective) back (noun) back (verb) back answer (noun) back away (phrasal verb) back burner (noun) back channel (noun) back copy (noun) back door (noun) back down (phrasal verb) back end (noun) back forty (noun) back issue (noun) back number (noun) back off (phrasal verb) back office (noun) back onto (phrasal verb) back out (phrasal verb) back pay (noun) back seat (noun) back talk (noun) back tax (noun) back up (phrasal verb) back-alley (adjective) back-to-back (adjective, adverb) back-to-back (noun) bite back (phrasal verb) bounce back (phrasal verb) bring back (phrasal verb) buy-back (noun) call back (phrasal verb) change back (phrasal verb) choke back (phrasal verb) circle back (phrasal verb) claim back (phrasal verb) claw back (phrasal verb) come back (phrasal verb) cut back (phrasal verb) die back (phrasal verb) double back (phrasal verb) draw back (phrasal verb) drive back (phrasal verb) drop back (phrasal verb) fall back (phrasal verb) fight back (phrasal verb) flood back (phrasal verb) force back (phrasal verb) get back (phrasal verb) give back (phrasal verb) go back (phrasal verb) gulp back (phrasal verb) hand back (phrasal verb) hang back (phrasal verb) hit back (phrasal verb) hold back (phrasal verb) invite back (phrasal verb) keep back (phrasal verb) kick back (phrasal verb) knock back (phrasal verb) laid-back (adjective) lie back (phrasal verb) look back (phrasal verb) pay back (phrasal verb) peel back (phrasal verb) peg back (phrasal verb) phone back (phrasal verb) play back (phrasal verb) plough back (phrasal verb) pull back (phrasal verb) push back (phrasal verb) put back (phrasal verb) read back (phrasal verb) report back (phrasal verb) ring back (phrasal verb) roll back (phrasal verb) row back (phrasal verb) scrape back (phrasal verb) send back (phrasal verb) set back (phrasal verb) sit back (phrasal verb) stand back (phrasal verb) start back (phrasal verb) stay back (phrasal verb) step back (phrasal verb) strike back (phrasal verb) sweep back (phrasal verb) swept-back (adjective) tail back (phrasal verb) take back (phrasal verb) talk back (phrasal verb) think back (phrasal verb) throw back (phrasal verb) toss back (phrasal verb) turn back (phrasal verb) walk back (verb) way back (phrase) win back (phrasal verb) write back (phrasal verb)