back of

preposition

Synonyms of back ofnext
US, informal
: behind
… stood leaning against a parked car out back of the building …—Peter Goldman et al.
They now sit … just two games back of the Yankees in the wild card race.—Steve Buckley

Synonyms of back of

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Examples of back of in a Sentence

the equipment shed is a concrete structure back of the school
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Minutes later the finalists will fight to stay on the back of 2,000-pound animals with names like Man Hater and Buck Nasty for eight excruciating seconds, and then dodge the bull's hooves and horns when they're tossed to the ground. — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 Gold Phoenix was near the back of the pack in the field of 11 until the far turn, when jockey Hector Berrios began urging him. — Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Whatever number is sitting in the back of your mind, set it to zero and run the plan again. — Jon Sabes, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past. — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back of

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back of was in 1694

Rhymes for back of

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Browse Nearby Words

back number
back of
back of beyond
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Cite this Entry

“Back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20of. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

back of

preposition
informal
: behind entry 2 sense 1
out back of the barn
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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