Phrase guide

back to back

adj · adv · 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Alternative form of back-to-back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

With one's back facing that of somebody else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • Stand back to back so that we can see which of you is taller.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dos a dos

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Consecutively; one after the other.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • We can't watch these films back to back! That's just way too much for one night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 背對背 /背对背 (bèi duì bèi) — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Dutch: rug aan rug — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Dutch: rug tegen rug — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Finnish: seläkkäin — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Finnish: selätysten — with back facing somebody else's back
  • French: dos à dos — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Italian: dorso a dorso — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Italian: schiena contro schiena — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Turkish: sırt sırta — with back facing somebody else's back
  • Azerbaijani: dalbadal — consecutively
  • Spanish: a la hila — consecutively
  • Welsh: ôl yn ôl — consecutively