quar·ter·back ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌbak 
1
: an offensive back in football who usually lines up behind the center, calls the signals, and directs the offensive play of the team
2
: one who directs and leads
quarterbacked; quarterbacking; quarterbacks
1
: to direct the offensive play of
quarterback a football team
2
: to give executive direction to : boss
… quarterbacked the original buying syndicate.—
Time
Time
: to play quarterback
Examples of quarterback in a Sentence
Verb He quarterbacked his high school team. She quarterbacked the company's latest ad campaign.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026 The question is two-fold 1) who is the Browns’ starting quarterback, and 2) will Concepcion see the volume to consistently succeed in fantasy? —Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Don’t be surprised if that continues at Virginia Tech, where Reynolds rejoins head coach James Franklin, position coach Ty Howle and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, among others. —Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quarterback
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.
Noun
His elite pass protection and calm feet mean he can be trusted immediately to keep the quarterback clean on passing downs, while also providing a high-effort presence on special teams. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026 The question is two-fold 1) who is the Browns’ starting quarterback, and 2) will Concepcion see the volume to consistently succeed in fantasy? —Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who quarterbacked Indiana to its first national title, is the consensus favorite for the Raiders. —ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Don’t be surprised if that continues at Virginia Tech, where Reynolds rejoins head coach James Franklin, position coach Ty Howle and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, among others. —Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quarterback
Cite this Entry
“Quarterback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/quarterback. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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