Phrase guide

back burner

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A section of a stove used to keep some pots warm while one focuses on others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: front burner

2

noun

Meaning 2

A state of low urgency; a state of low current importance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, uncountable

Examples

  • We'll put next year's Christmas party on the back burner until we deal with the current financial crisis.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: front burner

3

noun

Meaning 3

reduced priority

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • dozens of cases were put on the back burner

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: front burner

Broader terms: precedence, precedency, priority

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.