Back Definition: Meaning, Uses, and Practice Examples

Let’s move on to the next step, explore a broader perspective on how this word is used, and strengthen your skill in forming similar sentence patterns with back.

Discover various synonymous expressions with “back” to boost your understanding of language and strengthen your vocabulary with similar lexical entries.

Related nouns: spine backbone vertebrae lumbar

Synonyms (contextual): rear dorsum posterior reverse side hind part

Common collocations: lower back back pain straight back muscular back

This word may be used with other parts of speech to create new phrases, collocations and lexical-grammatical units that have different meanings and purposes.

With adjectives: curved back naked back broad back tiny back

With verbs: arch your back straighten your back scratch your back

With nouns (noun + noun): back muscles back massage back support

What does “back” mean? It may appear in different contexts and bear various descriptions according to them. In this section, you will become more familiar with the idiomatic meanings that this word can offer.

• Watch your back — To be cautious or on guard, especially because someone might try to harm you.

  In the cutthroat world of politics, you’ve got to watch your back if you want to survive.

• Back-to-back — Happening one right after another without interruption.

    The team played two back-to-back matches and still managed to win both.

• Break one’s back — To put in a tremendous amount of effort, often to the point of physical or mental exhaustion, in order to achieve something.

    She broke her back trying to meet the tight project deadline, but it was worth it in the end.

Now it is easy for you to define a back, but what if we say that we have some more interesting tasks for you that will give you a complete definition? Check what you know and get even more at the finish!

Learn how to spell “back” and how to pronounce it as a native speaker of other popular languages across the world, especially in Europe.

In medical and anatomical terms, the definition of “back” is very complicated, since it is a very big and complex part of the musculoskeletal system. Let’s discover its importance and learn something new.

• The back is the body’s central support structure

  Our back contains the spine, providing support to the whole upper body and maintaining posture. It acts as a central structure linking the head, arms and legs. With no sturdy, flexible back to support us, most of our daily actions would become very difficult or nearly impossible, for it really is the backbone of every motion.

• The spine is a complex chain of bones

  The human spine consists of 33 vertebrae that are stacked atop one another much like building blocks. These vertebrae are divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions. This arrangement affords the flexibility and protection for the spinal cord that lies within it. In other words, sometimes strength lies in the weakest link of the chain.

• Muscles in the back are key to movement

  The back consists of more than 50 muscles, including large ones such as the latissimus dorsi and trapezius. Movement is the cooperative activity of these muscles: they aid bending, twisting, lifting and maintaining posture. The stronger you get in your back, the less chance there will be of getting injured and the less burden will have to be laid on other parts of your body.

• The back plays a vital role in nervous system function

  Running through the vertebrae, the spinal cord sends signals from the brain out to the body. Any injury to the back can affect muscular movement, sensation and even organ function. The back is important for support and communication of the entire body; after all, it is the one medium synchronizing all the elements in motion.

• The back is vulnerable but resilient

  Despite its complexity, the back is prone to strains, herniated discs and posture-related issues. Exercising, stretching and maintaining good ergonomics keep it strong and problem-free. It is this resilience that helps humans to take part in a wide range of physical activities throughout life.

As you already know, the word “back” is a vital part of the human body and an interesting lexical unit, so we invite you to take a closer look and see what place this word has found in popular quotations!

— Fannie Flagg

Explanation: You can see the indication that envy or insecurity can fuel gossip and slander. When people talk about you behind your back, it could be proof that you are indeed playing your cards right while they are stuck in the same old rut.

— Terry Hayes

Explanation: This implies that profound changes sometimes do take place without us noticing them on the very instant they unravel. Life evolves subtly and by the time we notice, the situation has already shifted — it’s all happening under the radar, while we’re caught napping.

— Robert Breault

Explanation: Quotation by Robert Breault brings forth the connotation that physical strain or pain usually outlasts any memory in the head. Basically, our body serves as a reminder of past stress or injuries, even when our brains have decided to let go of it and sometimes our backs carry the baggage we try to forget.

— Nicky Gumbel

Explanation: The meaning here is that loyalty is tested when somebody stands by you while you are away. Those who speak well of you behind your back are more trustworthy than those who keep up a good face to your face.