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

Investors, soothed by a lowering of tensions between the U.S. and China, have put trade worries on the back burner.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 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

The Dayforce study comes as Americans grapple with higher housing, healthcare, transportation and childcare costs — all immediate needs that can push retirement savings to the back burner.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 25, 2025

Guilt, like pudding, began bubbling on the back burner.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman