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.
Center David Andrews was examined for a concussion late in the fourth quarter after being leveled by a blindside block by Mike Pennel during a runback following an interception by Zappe.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 25, 2022
Baylor trailed 23-3 after Nixon’s runback, but made it a game after that.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 1, 2022
Hardman has the speed to break any runback for Kansas City, too.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 22, 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 Harold Morrow Sherman
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.
