linebacking

noun

line·​back·​ing ˈlīn-ˌba-kiŋ How to pronounce linebacking (audio)
: the action or art of playing linebacker

Examples of linebacking in a Sentence

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.
That didn’t translate to the football field, though, and Simmons lost out to Welch for the final linebacking job. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The team also lost two of its most promising linebacking prospects in freshman AJ Tuitele and Matai Tagoa’i, who both transferred to other schools. — Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026 The linebacking group held up without Dre Greenlaw for several weeks and without Alex Singleton on Sunday. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 19 Nov. 2025 The Rams defense has been led by the linebacking duo of Verse, named to his second consecutive team in just two professional seasons, and Young, who leads the team with 11 sacks this year. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for linebacking

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of linebacking was in 1953

Rhymes for linebacking

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Browse Nearby Words

linebacker
linebacking
line block
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Cite this Entry

“Linebacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linebacking. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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