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Synonyms

back seat

British  

noun

  1. a seat at the back, esp of a vehicle

  2. informal a subordinate or inconspicuous position (esp in the phrase take a back seat )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

EV sales have taken a back seat at Tesla lately.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Fertilizer components may take a back seat to oil and oil products when it comes to transiting Hormuz.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Football matches took a back seat when Jim moved to England to pursue a career as a financial advisor, but his interest was rekindled in the early 2000s.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Another young passenger in the back seat was hospitalized for a precautionary evaluation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The scrappy puppy in the back seat, however, hops into the pilot's lap and starts gnawing on the control stick!

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

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