Give financial, material, or moral support to

• - he had a newspaper empire backing him

• - go up there and tell them—I'll back you up

Bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest

• - he backed the horse at 33–1

Be in favor of

• - over 97 percent backed the changes

Supplement in order to reinforce or strengthen

• - U.S. troops were backed up by forces from European countries

Cover the back of (an object) in order to support, protect, or decorate it

• - a mirror backed with tortoiseshell

(esp. in popular music) Provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician)

• - brisk guitar work backed by drums, bass, fiddle, and accordion

Put a song or piece of music on the less important side of (a recording)

• - the new single is backed with a track from the LP

Walk or drive backward

• - she tried to back away

• - backing down the stairs

• - the administration backed away from the plan

• - he backed the Mercedes into the yard

(of the wind) Change direction counterclockwise around the points of the compass

• - the wind had backed to the northwest

Put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down

(of a property) Have its back adjacent to (a piece of land or body of water)

• - a row of cottages backed on the water

• - his garage wall backs onto the neighboring property

Lie behind or at the back of

• - the promenade is backed by lots of cafes

The rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips

• - he lay on his back

• - Forbes slapped me on the back

• - back pain

The corresponding upper surface of an animal's body

The spine of a person or animal

The part of a chair against which the sitter's back rests

The part of a garment that covers a person's back

A person's torso or body regarded in terms of wearing clothes

• - all he owned were the clothes on his back

A person's back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition

• - they wanted the government off their backs

The side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear

• - at the back of the hotel is a secluded garden

• - an empty spot in the back of the plane

The position directly behind someone or something

• - she unbuttoned her dress from the back

The side or part of an object opposed to the one that is normally seen or used; the less active, visible, or important part of something

• - write on the back of a postcard

• - he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand

The part of a book where the pages are held together by a binding

A player in a field game whose initial position is behind the front line

• - their backs showed some impressive running and passing

The position taken by such a player