high-back

IPA/hˈaɪbˈak/
IPA/hˈaɪbˈæk/

high-back — adjective

1. located in a place that is raised above ground level and also toward the rear en

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

located in a place that is raised above ground level and also toward the rear end of an area, such as a room, a stadium, or a vehicle.

Example

Diego stored his old camping gear on a high-back shelf mounted against the rear wall of the garage.

collocation: high-back shelf

Sofia chose a high-back seat in the last row of the cinema's upper section.

collocation: high-back seat

Common collocations
  • high-back seat
  • high-back shelf
  • high-back position
  • high-back spot
  • high-back row
Synonyms
  • elevated rear

    more descriptive, less common as a compound

  • upper back

    often used for seating areas in theatres or stadiums

  • top rear

    informal, used for general positioning

Antonyms
  • low front

    describes a position low and at the front

Grammar Patterns

high-back + noun describing a location or position

Usage Note

Used attributively before nouns describing locations, positions, or storage furniture. Do not confuse with 'high-backed', which describes chairs or furniture that have a tall backrest.

Common Mistakes

She bought a high-back chair with a tall backrest.
She bought a high-backed chair with a tall backrest.
'high-backed' describes furniture with a tall back; 'high-back' describes a position that is both elevated and at the rear.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'High-back' is a compact compound adjective used to describe a position that is both raised and at the rear of a space. 'Upper back' is more common for seating areas in theatres, stadiums, or lecture halls — it focuses on the vertical dimension with a nod to the rear. 'Elevated rear' is more descriptive and less formulaic, but it reads as two separate words rather than a fixed compound. 'Top rear' is the most informal of the set and often appears in technical contexts (e.g. 'top-rear panel' or 'top-rear rack'). For general descriptions of storage or seating locations, 'high-back' is the most concise and natural choice. Example: 'Ananya scored from a high-back position near the corner' (concise compound) vs. 'Ananya scored from an elevated rear position' (more formal, less common).

high-back ↗upper backelevated reartop rear

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • high-back seat in the upper section
  • high-back position on the field

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A compound adjective formed from 'high' (from Old English 'heah', meaning elevated or tall) and 'back' (from Old English 'bæc', meaning the rear part of the body, extended to mean the rear of any space). The compound emerged in English to concisely describe a position that is simultaneously elevated and rearward.