backstroke
noun
back·stroke
ˈbak-ˌstrōk 
: a swimming stroke executed on the back and usually consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick
Examples of backstroke in a Sentence
She got into the pool and began to do the backstroke.
She won the 50-meter backstroke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cap Lightner took second place in the boys 100-yard backstroke.
—
La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has approved the addition of the men’s and women’s 50 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly—six events in total.
—Casey Murphy, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
As a teenager who reached the 100 meter backstroke semifinal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she was publicly drawn to comment on Mugabe's controversial policy of violent expropriation of commercial farms owned by white Zimbabweans.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Kogler turned around and won the 100-yard backstroke title with a time of 47.87 seconds, which was eight-tenths of a second faster than his prelim swim and earned him automatic All-American honors.
—Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstroke
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has approved the addition of the men’s and women’s 50 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly—six events in total.
—Casey Murphy, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
As a teenager who reached the 100 meter backstroke semifinal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she was publicly drawn to comment on Mugabe's controversial policy of violent expropriation of commercial farms owned by white Zimbabweans.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Kogler turned around and won the 100-yard backstroke title with a time of 47.87 seconds, which was eight-tenths of a second faster than his prelim swim and earned him automatic All-American honors.
—Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstroke
Cite this Entry
“Backstroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstroke. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backstroke
noun
back·stroke
-ˌstrōk
: a swimming stroke made by a swimmer who lies in the water facing upward
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share