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.

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

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

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