ENGLISH
REFERENCE

backed

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbækt// UK //bˈækt// backed Archaic Slang

v. to support someone or something, often with money or your public approval. You use this when you want to show you are on someone's side.

v. to provide financial, moral, or logistical support to a person, organization, or project. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the entity receiving support.


SIMPLE

The local bank backed the new small business.

CONTEXTUAL

Several major investors backed the tech startup during its first round of funding last year.

COMPLEX

The proposed legislation was backed by a coalition of environmental groups and urban planners who argued that the long-term benefits outweighed the immediate costs.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From back (verb).

Etymology 2

From back (noun) + -ed.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Often used in the passive voice ('was backed by').

Pitfall

He backed to the planHe backed the planThe verb is transitive and does not require a preposition before the object.

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