back-to-back

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

Synonyms of back-to-backnext
1
: facing in opposite directions and often touching
2
: coming one after the other : consecutive

back-to-back

2 of 2

noun

plural back-to-backs
1
British : a house that is connected in a row with other houses on each side and with a similar row of houses behind it
These were where the millworkers dwelt, the worst of them known as back-to-backs because that is how they were built, without intervening space.—Geoffrey Moorhouse
2
sports : a sequence of two games scheduled to be played on consecutive days
Miami began to beat elite teams and was bloodlessly efficient in the second half of back-to-backs, winning 11 in a row over a three-month stretch, a sign of a team with toughness.—Jack McCallum

Synonyms of back-to-back

Examples of back-to-back in a Sentence

Adjective or adverb the three movies in the series were filmed back-to-back so that the cast members wouldn't age visibly on screen the new governor was soon facing several back-to-back crises
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective or adverb
Campbell and the Thunderbolts weren’t interested in a repeat performance when counting down the days to the rare back-to-back matchup. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 The Panthers host Winnipeg on Friday in the second of back-to-back games in Florida for the Jets, who visit Tampa Bay on Thursday. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 The executive producer role will find the iconic producer helping shape the opening and closing ceremonies for back-to-back games in four separate events that will be viewed by an audience of billions across the globe. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 But that loss to the Pistons came with an ominous sign, as James was forced to start at center because Joel Embiid was held out on the second night of a back-to-back. — Dan Woike, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back-to-back

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of back-to-back was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Back-to-back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-to-back. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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