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

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.
Accumulation of food debris observed on the deli slicer in the back of kitchen. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 Exod The Base-01 is the latest product to package that ease of use in big, bold team/group form, designed to accommodate everything from a race team, to a fleet of mountain bikes, to the back of your pickup truck. — New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026 Stroud found Harrison in the back of the end zone on a 6-yard TD with about 30 seconds left in the second quarter. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Next, pick up the foundation from the back of your hand with a makeup brush. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 24 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20of. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

back of

preposition
informal
: behind entry 2 sense 1
out back of the barn
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