Quarterback Meaning
/ˈkwɔːtəbak/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn offensive back whose primary job is to pass the ball in a play.
nounAn offensive back who receives the snap (hike) and then blocks the defense from crossing the line of scrimmage; a blocking back.
Sentence Examples
Tom is a quarterback.
Tom plays quarterback on our high school's football team.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the final play, the ____ passed the football to a teammate who scored the winning touchdown.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ threw a perfect spiral pass that landed in the receiver's hands in the end zone.
Word Origin & History
From quarter + back, in reference to the position in front of the halfback position.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Standing 6-foot-6, 237 pounds, Herbert’s size and arm strength are consistent with a prototypical N.F.L. quarterback, and he led the Ducks to a Pac-12 championship and a victory at the Rose Bowl in January with not much talent at receiver."
— 2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in The New York Times:
"Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans defended Azeez Al-Shaair after the linebacker was ejected from Sunday’s game for throwing a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. […] “A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late, and they try to get an extra yard. And now you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender, right?”"
— 2024 December 2, David Close, “Houston Texans head coach defends Azeez Al-Shaair as the NFL leans toward suspending the linebacker, source says”, in CNN:
"Wayman's major responsibility is to quarterback the team, coordinating business development, project scheduling and management and quality control."
— 1981, “Interiors roundtable”, in Lodging Hospitality, volume 37, page 250:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the final play, the ____ passed the football to a teammate who scored the winning touchdown.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ threw a perfect spiral pass that landed in the receiver's hands in the end zone.