Used in a Sentence

backspace

Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for backspace.

Editorial note

Because capslock is backspace in colemak, I changed the backspace key to control.

Examples15
Definitions4
Parts of speech2

Quick take

The key on a typewriter that moves the head one position backwards.

Meaning at a glance

The clearest senses and uses of backspace gathered in one view.

noun

The key on a typewriter that moves the head one position backwards.

noun

(computing) A keyboard key used for removing a character behind the cursor, and moving the cursor one position backwards.

verb

(computing) To remove a character behind a cursor.

Definitions

Core meanings and parts of speech for backspace.

noun

The key on a typewriter that moves the head one position backwards.

noun

(computing) A keyboard key used for removing a character behind the cursor, and moving the cursor one position backwards.

verb

(computing) To remove a character behind a cursor.

noun

(computing) A non-printable text character representing a backspace.

Example sentences

1

Because capslock is backspace in colemak, I changed the backspace key to control.

2

Instead of backspace, shift+home, delete is a fast way to delete lines of any length.

3

This old guy, who learned to type on a machine like that, sure has become dependent on stuff like rollover and backspace.

4

Ubuntu and OSX both come with Colemak now (minus the caps lock to backspace).

5

I can type long strings of numbers without looking and rarely have to backspace for a typo.

6

She even realizes if she does and can backspace, etc without even looking.

7

Here is a zshrc with almost zero switching cost - especially with the esc-backspace behavior for path deletes, setenv declarations and integration with Ubuntu's command-not-found.

8

It depends on how I got to where I am now.) and it is so unfortunately right beside the backspace button in the landscape keyboard.

9

I hate no dedicated insert, although shift + backspace works well.

10

I do know a LOT of places where this gets missed, and a typo goes to the next field, but reflexive backspace correction also fails.

11

So non-printing keystrokes, like space, tab, and backspace, and the character that did not rotate the ball, '-', were not detectable.

12

The closest I've got is with a Razer Naga Epic - the gaming mouse with the 12 thumb buttons: F5 Up F2 Left Down Right Tab Del Backspace Enter Space ESC This speeds me up greatly.

Quote examples

1

But when I'm up there writing code, every little mistake psyches me out more and more, especially I can't just hit "backspace" to fix it.

2

It's possible to do something like "shift+press the down arrow 4 times, backspace" in Vim by the way: "Vjjjd" or "dd...".

3

In this sense, "rebase rewriting private history" does not mean faking accounting numbers like "Enron fraud" and throwing auditors off track, but instead, it's more like "hit backspace key or Ctrl+Z and type the intended characters." In CVS/SVN, the "commits" are a Really Big Deal.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.

How do you use backspace in a sentence?

Because capslock is backspace in colemak, I changed the backspace key to control.

What does backspace mean?

The key on a typewriter that moves the head one position backwards.

What part of speech is backspace?

backspace is commonly used as noun, verb.