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

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
On back-to-back days, the two defining players of the past 20 years would exit the World Cup stage, most likely for good, given their ages. Sean Gregory, Time, 7 July 2026 Ryan Walker allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth, then back-to-back home runs to center field by Guerrero and Springer for a 10-0 lead. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Argentina is bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962. James Robson, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026 As only the second program in history to win its first two titles back-to-back, the Longhorns are now chasing their first team ESPY win. Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 8 July 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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