backbone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those dense, umami-packed centers become the backbone of the dressing.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

"But that's the reality of our theatre ecosystem, there are thousands of people working whose names you don't know, who are the backbone of British theatre."

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

They are often dismissed as a punch line, but Roxane Gay explains why women’s book clubs are the backbone of a passionate literary culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

“He has been the backbone of our family,” said Maria, 56.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

During the war for settler independence from Britain, the Ulster Scots were in the forefront of the struggle and formed the backbone of George Washington’s fighting forces.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz