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Definition of back verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

back

verb
 
 
/bæk/
 
/bæk/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they back
 
/bæk/
 
/bæk/
he / she / it backs
 
/bæks/
 
/bæks/
past simple backed
 
/bækt/
 
/bækt/
past participle backed
 
/bækt/
 
/bækt/
-ing form backing
 
/ˈbækɪŋ/
 
/ˈbækɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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    support

  1.  
     [transitive] back somebody/something to encourage somebody or give them help; to give financial support to somebody/something
    • Her parents backed her in her choice of career.
    • The project to improve healthcare is backed (= given financial support) by the government.
    Extra Examples
    • a United Nations-backed peace plan
    • His election bid was financially backed by a soft drinks company.
    Topics Businessb2, Moneyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • strongly
    • fully
    • overwhelmingly
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [transitive] back somebody/something to support and agree with somebody/something
    • Local residents are enthusiastically backing the campaign to save the library.
    • Doctors have backed plans to raise the tax on alcohol.
    • He has publicly backed calls for an enquiry.
    Extra Examples
    • Teachers are strongly backing the new educational policies.
    • Campaigners, backed by business leaders, have been calling for a no vote.
  3. [transitive, usually passive] to help prove that something is true
    • be backed by something All complaints must be backed by evidence.
    4.

    bet money

  4. [transitive] back something to bet money on a horse in a race, a team in a competition, etc.
    • I backed the winner and won fifty pounds.
    • The horse was heavily backed on the morning of the race.
    Topics Moneyc1, Sports: other sportsc1

    5. music

  5. [transitive] back something to play or sing music that supports the main singer or instrument see also backing

    6. move backwards

  6. [intransitive, transitive] to move or make something move backwards
    • + adv./prep. He backed against the wall, terrified.
    • to back out of a parking space
    • back something + adv./prep. If you can't drive in forwards, try backing it in.
    compare reverse
    Extra Examples
    • She backed across the room.
    • He backed out of the drive.
    • She backed into the garage.
    • Try backing the car in—it's easier that way.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • hastily
    • hurriedly
    • immediately
    • …
    verb + back
    • try to
    preposition
    • across
    • away from
    • into
    • …
    See full entry
    7.

    cover back

  7. [transitive] [usually passive] to cover the back of something in order to support or protect it
    • be backed with something Each piece is backed with clear vinyl.
    8.

    be behind

  8. [transitive, usually passive] to be located behind something
    • be backed by something The house is backed by fields.
    9. Word OriginOld English bæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of aback.
Idioms
back the wrong horse
  1. (British English) to support somebody/something that is not successfulTopics Difficulty and failurec2
See back in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee back in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: back

Nearby words

perspective
noun
 
 
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Oxford 3000
B2
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