quarterback

American  

[kwawr-ter-bak] / ˈkwɔr tərˌbæk /

noun

• quarterbacks
  plural

1. a back in football who usually lines up immediately behind the center and directs the offense of the team.

2. the position played by this back.

3. a person who leads or directs a group or activity.

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verb (used with object)

1. to direct the offense of (a team).

2. to lead or direct.

   to quarterback a public-relations campaign.

verb (used without object)

1. to play the position of quarterback.

quarterback British  

/ ˈkwɔːtəˌbæk /

noun

1. a player in American or Canadian football, positioned usually behind the centre, who directs attacking play

2. wisdom after the event, esp by spectators

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• quarterbacks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of quarterback

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; quarter + back ¹

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Explanation

In American football, the quarterback is in charge of the team's offense. When football players huddle in a circle to plan their plays, the quarterback usually decides which strategy to use. In many ways, a quarterback is a team's leader, although ultimately the coach is in charge. When an NFL team wins the Super Bowl, the quarterback accepts the winning trophy. As a verb, to quarterback either means, literally, to play the position of quarterback, or to lead a team or project: "The teacher asked me to quarterback the class Halloween party." Quarterback comes from the starting field position, between the center and the halfback.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quarterback quarterbacks

They won their first two games by a combined margin of 94 points as Eck rotated a few different replacements before settling on dual-threat quarterback Toa Fa’avae.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Gardner-Johnson, former NFL quarterback and current Fox broadcaster Tom Brady offered this on-air analysis: “Poor awareness. Poor decision. Throws him a meatball sub.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Standing in a scrum of reporters speaking to Brady, Gómez Mont interrupted the New England Patriots quarterback by shouting, “I’m in love with you! Will you marry me, please?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

They’ve already begun amassing young talent, though they still lack a long-term answer at quarterback, a position they’re expected to address this offseason.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

She had traveled for stories a few times in the past—down to Columbus, to investigate state budgeting cuts; up to Ann Arbor, when a former Shaker student had started at quarterback in the Michigan-OSU game.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Anyone who has ever played a football videogame or called defenses from their couch has wished their favorite team blitzed opposing quarterbacks more often.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Despite leading the 49ers to the 2013 Super Bowl, and throwing 16 touchdowns in his final season, one of the most talented quarterbacks in the sport never found a new team.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

In fact, since 2000, there have been 50 quarterbacks selected with top-10 draft picks—and only three, including McCarthy, had fewer than 15 starts before they were kicked to the curb.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

When quarterbacks and receivers are thinking alike, magic happens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

Now one of the junior varsity quarterbacks was leading the team, and Frankie didn’t seem to mind.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

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