back burner

NOUN

reduced priority

Synonyms

WEAK

abeyance cold storage limbo suspension

Antonyms

WEAK

front burner

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.

“Today’s signal: that’s on the back burner now, not that it’s ever gotten off the ground,” Haines said in a note.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Those who were thinking about the parties' green policies said they feared climate change had been "put on the back burner".

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

But Epstein talk has definitely been on the back burner in recent weeks, with the war in Iran especially taking precedence.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

Gold and silver prices fell early Wednesday after strong recent gains, with investors beginning to put geopolitical concerns on the back burner.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Mama Ya-Ya gets up, and picks up the pot of scalded milk from the stove’s back burner.

From "Ninth Ward" by Jewell Parker Rhodes