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.

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

It is possible that Jenner hasn’t given much thought to the currently listed home, putting it on the back burner.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

The results highlight the tough road ahead for Tesla as Musk tries to turn the focus to the company’s artificial intelligence and robotics strategies, putting the electric vehicle business on the back burner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 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

On the back burner, a pan of polenta simmered and popped.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon