backspace

UK: /ˈbækspeɪs/ US: /ˈbækˌspeɪs/ ,(bak′spās′)

Inflections of 'backspace' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

backspaces

v 3rd person singular

backspacing

v pres p

backspaced

v past

backspaced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

back•space /ˈbækˌspeɪs/   v., -spaced, -spac•ing, n. 
v. [no obj]

1. Printing to move the typing element of a typewriter or the cursor on a computer display one space backward.

n. [countable]

2. Computing the key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used for backspacing.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

back•space  (bak′spās′), v., -spaced, -spac•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. Printing to shift the carriage or typing element of a typewriter one space backward by depressing a special key.
2. Computing to move the cursor, printhead, etc., toward the beginning of the data.

n. 

3. Printing the space made by backspacing.
4. Computing Also called back′spac′er, back′space key′. the labeled key on a typewriter or computer keyboard used for backspacing.

• back² + space

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

backspace / ˈbækˌspeɪs/ verb

1. to move a (typewriter carriage or computer cursor) backwards