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Synonyms

backed

American  
[bakt] / bækt /

adjective

  1. having a back, backing, setting, or support (often used in combination).

    a low-backed sofa.

  2. (of fabric) having an extra set of threads in either the warp or the weft to provide added warmth.

  3. Photography. (of a film or plate) coated with a substance for absorbing light and thereby reducing halation.

backed British  
/ bækt /

adjective

    1. having a back or backing

    2. ( in combination )

      high-backed

      black-backed
"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

Other Word Forms

  • half-backed adjective
  • well-backed adjective

Etymology

Origin of backed

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; back 1, -ed 3

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.

Some schools are now talking about voluntary charters, where parents pledge not to give their children smartphones, while the education minister has backed a similar campaign.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Gadson backed Withers in 1972 for a concert at Carnegie Hall that was recorded for a classic live album; the record opens with a version of “Use Me” that stretches past the eight-minute mark.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The U.S. president eventually backed down on his threats to take control of Greenland, but the dispute appeared to represent a turning point in his relations with Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Either way, Emma has backed herself into a corner and hopes that honesty and context will be her saving grace.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

In the evening, Macon backed the blue Jeep out of the driveway without saying where he was going.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.