back
Definitions, pronunciation, related words, and community validation from players who tested this word in Spelling Bee.
Community validation
Did you try this word? Vote to let us know if it was accepted or not.
Spelling Bee Profile
When back helps
Base Score
1
Before any board-specific bonus
Unique Letters
4
A B C K
Two-Letter Start
BA
Useful for systematic scans
Ending
CK
Check this pattern late
- 4 letters
- 4 unique letters
- BA start
- CK ending
Try it when
- back is a four-letter word, so it is worth 1 point when accepted.
- It uses 4 unique letters, so it can fit boards that include a, b, c, k plus any remaining hive letters.
- The CK ending makes this a useful pattern check after you try the BA start.
- BuzzyWords has saved this word in 1 published Daily snapshot.
Pronunciation
noun
The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
"Could you please scratch my back?"
noun
That which is farthest away from the front.
"He sat in the back of the room."
noun
Upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal's back.
"The small boat raced over the backs of the waves."
noun
A support or resource in reserve.
noun
The keel and keelson of a ship.
"The ship's back broke in the pounding surf."
noun
The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
noun
Effort, usually physical.
"Put some back into it!"
noun
A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
"Could I get a martini with a water back?"
noun
Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
verb
To go in the reverse direction.
"the train backed into the station; the horse refuses to back"
verb
To support.
"I back you all the way; which horse are you backing in this race?"
verb
(of the wind) To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
verb
(of a square sail) To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
verb
(of an anchor) To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
verb
(of a hunting dog) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
verb
To push or force backwards.
"The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet."
verb
To get upon the back of; to mount.
verb
To place or seat upon the back.
verb
To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
"to back books"
verb
To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
verb
To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
"to back a letter; to back a note or legal document"
verb
(of a justice of the peace) To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
verb
To row backward with (oars).
"to back the oars"
adjective
Near the rear.
"Go in the back door of the house."
adjective
Not current.
"I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine."
adjective
Far from the main area.
"They took a back road."
adjective
In arrear; overdue.
"They still owe three months' back rent."
adjective
Moving or operating backward.
"back action"
adjective
Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).
"The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England."
adverb
To or in a previous condition or place.
"He gave back the money. He needs his money back. He was on vacation, but now he’s back. The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back."
adverb
Away from the front or from an edge.
"Sit all the way back in your chair."
adverb
In a manner that impedes.
"Fear held him back."
adverb
In a reciprocal manner; in return.
"If you hurt me, I'll hurt you back."
adverb
Earlier, ago.
"I last saw him a day or two back."
noun
A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
noun
A ferryboat.