1 B2 neutral
to fasten hair back with a pin or clip
"She pinned back her hair before starting to cook."
separable
pin back
B2 neutral separable transitive
to fasten something back with a pin so it stays away from the face or from where it hangs
In plain English
to fix it back with a pin
What does "pin back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
to hold curtains or fabric back with a pin or fastening
"The heavy curtains were pinned back to let in more light."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to attach something backward with a pin
Actually means
to fix it back with a pin
Usage tip
Common with hair, curtains, and loose fabric.
Words that pair with "pin back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hair fringe curtains sleeves fabric
How to conjugate "pin back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pin back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pins back
he/she/it
Past simple
pined back
yesterday
Past participle
pined back
have + pp
-ing form
pining back
continuous
Hear "pin back" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pin back"
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Keep exploring
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