runback
Americannoun
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Football.
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a run made by a player toward the goal line of the opponents after receiving a kick, intercepting a pass, or recovering an opponent's fumble.
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the distance covered in making such a run.
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Tennis. the space on a tennis court between the base line and the backstop.
Etymology
Origin of runback
First recorded in 1905–10; noun use of verb phrase run back
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.
They were loud and raucous — “We almost didn’t hear the phone ring,” Heikkila said — cheering every hit, guard and angled double runback pulled off by the Americans.
From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2022
Bengals returner/safety Brandon Wilson was carted off the field with a left knee injury suffered on a runback in the second quarter.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2021
Sexton's runback led to a 4-yard scoring run by much-traveled running back Kalen Ballage, now with his fourth team in as many years.
From Fox News • Aug. 5, 2021
Last year in three of the Rams’ seven losses, he turned the ball over, resulting in the opponent’s scoring — pick six, strip-sack runback, etc.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2020
Pomeroy's ball on Grinnell's forty yard line and Mack Carver's brilliant runback of the initial kick-off reduced to naught!
From Interference and Other Football Stories by Sherman, Harold Morrow
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.
