4back verb
backs; backed; back·ing 1 [+ obj] a : to give help to (someone) : support
▪ I'm backing him (against the Establishment) in his struggle for reform. ▪ I'm backing him for President.
b : to bet on (someone or something)
▪ She backed the winner of the race and won a lot of money. ▪ The pundits are all backing him to become the next President. [=the pundits all think that he will become the next President]
c : to provide evidence that supports (something)
▪ She backed her argument with written evidence.
d : to provide the money that is needed for (something)
▪ back a new company ▪ back a Broadway play
e : to sing or play music that supports (a main singer or musical instrument)
▪ She backed the singer on the guitar. — often + up ▪ A guitarist backed up the singer. — see also back up (below) 2 : to move backward [no obj] ▪ She backed into a parking space. ▪ She backed out of the garage. ▪ The dog kept growling but backed off/away cautiously. [+ obj] ▪ Could you back [=(more commonly) back up] your car a little to give me some room? — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The reporter backed her into a corner [=put her into a difficult position that was hard to get out of] with his probing questions. 3 [+ obj] : to provide (something) with a back
▪ back a skirt with stiff material 4 [no obj] : to have the back toward something
▪ The house fronts onto Main Street and backs onto/on the golf course. [=the back of the house faces the golf course]
▪ I'm backing him (against the Establishment) in his struggle for reform. ▪ I'm backing him for President.
b : to bet on (someone or something)
▪ She backed the winner of the race and won a lot of money. ▪ The pundits are all backing him to become the next President. [=the pundits all think that he will become the next President]
c : to provide evidence that supports (something)
▪ She backed her argument with written evidence.
d : to provide the money that is needed for (something)
▪ back a new company ▪ back a Broadway play
e : to sing or play music that supports (a main singer or musical instrument)
▪ She backed the singer on the guitar. — often + up ▪ A guitarist backed up the singer. — see also back up (below)
▪ back a skirt with stiff material
▪ The house fronts onto Main Street and backs onto/on the golf course. [=the back of the house faces the golf course]
back away [phrasal verb]
: to move away from something or someone by walking backward
▪ The robber pointed a gun at the policeman and told him to back away slowly. — often + from ▪ The policeman slowly backed away from the robber. ▪ She backed away from the growling dog. — often used figuratively ▪ The government seems to be backing away from its earlier proposal. ▪ She has backed away from her controversial position on the death penalty.
▪ The robber pointed a gun at the policeman and told him to back away slowly. — often + from ▪ The policeman slowly backed away from the robber. ▪ She backed away from the growling dog. — often used figuratively ▪ The government seems to be backing away from its earlier proposal. ▪ She has backed away from her controversial position on the death penalty.
back down [phrasal verb]
: to stop arguing or fighting for something
▪ When threatened with a revolt of its own supporters, the government backed down. ▪ The strike is expected to continue because neither side is willing to back down. — often + from ▪ The government backed down from its position. ▪ He'll never back down from a fight.
▪ When threatened with a revolt of its own supporters, the government backed down. ▪ The strike is expected to continue because neither side is willing to back down. — often + from ▪ The government backed down from its position. ▪ He'll never back down from a fight.
back into [phrasal verb]
back into (something) : to become involved in (something) without planning to become involved
▪ He backed into the antiques business almost by accident when he sold some old furniture he'd inherited.
▪ He backed into the antiques business almost by accident when he sold some old furniture he'd inherited.
back off [phrasal verb] 1 : to stop arguing or fighting for something : to back down
▪ He has refused to back off. 2 : to decide not to do something that you had agreed to do : to back out
▪ The deal fell through when investors backed off. 3 : to stop bothering someone
▪ She was getting irritated, so I backed off.
▪ He has refused to back off.
▪ The deal fell through when investors backed off.
▪ She was getting irritated, so I backed off.
back out [phrasal verb]
: to decide not to do something that you had agreed to do
▪ The deal fell through when investors backed out. — often + of ▪ The investors backed out of the deal.
▪ The deal fell through when investors backed out. — often + of ▪ The investors backed out of the deal.
back up [phrasal verb] 1 a : to move backward
▪ The car backed up slowly. ▪ Could you back up a little to give me some room? — sometimes used figuratively ▪ Wait, let's back up for a second. [=let's go back to what we were discussing earlier]
b back (a vehicle) up or back up (a vehicle) : to move (a vehicle) backward
▪ Could you back your car up a little to give me some room? 2 a : to become blocked so that movement or flow is slowed or stopped
▪ Traffic backed up for miles because of the accident. ▪ The drain backed up [=clogged] and had to be unclogged by a plumber.
b back (something) up or back up (something) : to cause (something) to become blocked
▪ The accident backed up traffic for miles. = Traffic was backed up [=(Brit) tailed back] for miles because of the accident. ▪ The drain was backed up. 3 back (someone or something) up or back up (someone or something) : to give help or support to (someone or something)
▪ I'll back you up if I think you're right. ▪ She backed her argument up with written evidence. = Written evidence backed her argument up. ▪ It's time to back up your words with deeds! — see also 4back 1e (above) 4 back (something) up or back up (something) computers : to make a copy of (a computer file or data) to protect it from being lost
▪ Remember to back up your work before you log off. — see also backup
▪ The car backed up slowly. ▪ Could you back up a little to give me some room? — sometimes used figuratively ▪ Wait, let's back up for a second. [=let's go back to what we were discussing earlier]
b back (a vehicle) up or back up (a vehicle) : to move (a vehicle) backward
▪ Could you back your car up a little to give me some room?
▪ Traffic backed up for miles because of the accident. ▪ The drain backed up [=clogged] and had to be unclogged by a plumber.
b back (something) up or back up (something) : to cause (something) to become blocked
▪ The accident backed up traffic for miles. = Traffic was backed up [=(Brit) tailed back] for miles because of the accident. ▪ The drain was backed up.
▪ I'll back you up if I think you're right. ▪ She backed her argument up with written evidence. = Written evidence backed her argument up. ▪ It's time to back up your words with deeds! — see also 4back 1e (above)
▪ Remember to back up your work before you log off. — see also backup
