What's the difference between back and on?

Back


Definition:

  • (n.) A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
  • (n.) A ferryboat. See Bac, 1.
  • (n.) In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
  • (n.) An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
  • (n.) The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
  • (n.) The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
  • (n.) The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
  • (n.) The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
  • (n.) A support or resource in reserve.
  • (n.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
  • (n.) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
  • (n.) A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
  • (a.) Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
  • (a.) Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
  • (a.) Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
  • (v. i.) To get upon the back of; to mount.
  • (v. i.) To place or seat upon the back.
  • (v. i.) To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
  • (v. i.) To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
  • (v. i.) To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
  • (v. i.) To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
  • (v. i.) To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend.
  • (v. i.) To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
  • (v. i.) To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
  • (v. i.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
  • (v. i.) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog.
  • (adv.) In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
  • (adv.) To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
  • (adv.) To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
  • (adv.) (Of time) In times past; ago.
  • (adv.) Away from contact; by reverse movement.
  • (adv.) In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
  • (adv.) In a state of restraint or hindrance.
  • (adv.) In return, repayment, or requital.
  • (adv.) In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.
  • (adv.) In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Arda Turan's deflected long-range strike puts Atlético back in control.
  • (2) In a debate in the House of Commons, I will ask Britain, the US and other allies to convert generalised offers of help into more practical support with greater air cover, military surveillance and helicopter back-up, to hunt down the terrorists who abducted the girls.
  • (3) Recent data collected by the Games Outcomes Project and shared on the website Gamasutra backs up the view that crunch compounds these problems rather than solving them.
  • (4) Northern Ireland will not be dragged back by terrorists who have nothing but misery to offer."
  • (5) Patrice Evra Evra Handed a five-match international ban for his part in the France squad’s mutiny against Raymond Domenech at the 2010 World Cup, it took Evra almost a year to force his way back in.
  • (6) On the way back to Pristina later, the lawyer told me everything was fine.
  • (7) Names, and the absence of them, could be important Facebook Twitter Pinterest Don’t look back … Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s stormtrooper Finn.
  • (8) David Cameron has insisted that membership of the European Union is in Britain's national interest and vital for "millions of jobs and millions of families", as he urged his own backbenchers not to back calls for a referendum on the UK's relationship with Brussels.
  • (9) Critics say he is unelectable as prime minister and will never be able to implement his plans, but he has nonetheless pulled attention back to an issue that many thought had gone away for good.
  • (10) The water is embossed with small waves and it has a chill glassiness which throws light back up at the sky.
  • (11) Now, as the Senate takes up a weakened House bill along with the House's strengthened backdoor-proof amendment, it's time to put focus back on sweeping reform.
  • (12) Anxious mood and other symptoms of anxiety were commonly seen in patients with chronic low back pain.
  • (13) When you have been out for a month you need to prepare properly before you come back.” Pellegrini will make his own assessment of Kompany’s fitness before deciding whether to play him in the Bournemouth game, which he is careful to stress may not be the foregone conclusion the league table might suggest.
  • (14) Sterile, pruritic papules and papulopustules that formed annular rings developed on the back of a 58-year-old woman.
  • (15) A recent visit by a member of Iraq's government from Baghdad to Basra and back cost about $12,000 (£7,800), the cable claimed.
  • (16) Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated previous LBP or back pain in another location of the spine were strongly associated with LBP during the study year.
  • (17) Former lawmaker and historian Faraj Najm said the ruling resets Libya “back to square one” and that the choice now faced by the Tobruk-based parliament is “between bad and worse”.
  • (18) He’s been so consistent this season.” Barkley took the two late penalties because the regular taker, Romelu Lukaku, had been withdrawn at half-time with a back injury that is likely to keep the striker out of Saturday’s trip to Stoke City.
  • (19) Environment groups Environment groups that have strongly backed low-carbon power have barely wavered in their opposition to nuclear in the last decade, although their arguments now are now much about the cost than the danger it might pose.
  • (20) United believe it is more likely the right-back can be bought in the summer but are exploring what would represent the considerable coup of acquiring the 26-year-old immediately.

On


Definition:

  • (prep.) In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on.
  • (prep.) The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath
  • (prep.) At, or in contact with, the surface or upper part of a thing, and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface; as, the book lies on the table, which stands on the floor of a house on an island.
  • (prep.) To or against the surface of; -- used to indicate the motion of a thing as coming or falling to the surface of another; as, rain falls on the earth.
  • (prep.) Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with; as, to play on a violin or piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's feelings; to make an impression on the mind.
  • (prep.) At or near; adjacent to; -- indicating situation, place, or position; as, on the one hand, on the other hand; the fleet is on the American coast.
  • (prep.) In addition to; besides; -- indicating multiplication or succession in a series; as, heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss; thought on thought.
  • (prep.) Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in; as, to depend on a person for assistance; to rely on; hence, indicating the ground or support of anything; as, he will promise on certain conditions; to bet on a horse.
  • (prep.) At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See At (synonym).
  • (prep.) At the time of, conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform. Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded.
  • (prep.) Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as, have pity or compassion on him.
  • (prep.) At the peril of, or for the safety of.
  • (prep.) By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor.
  • (prep.) To the account of; -- denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon; as, on us be all the blame; a curse on him.
  • (prep.) In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect punctuality; a satire on society.
  • (prep.) Of.
  • (prep.) Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey.
  • (prep.) In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee.
  • (prep.) Forward, in progression; onward; -- usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on.
  • (prep.) Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on.
  • (prep.) Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, "He is neither on nor off," that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute.
  • (prep.) Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use.
  • (prep.) In progress; proceeding; as, a game is on.

Example Sentences: