1
as in jam
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement
there was the inevitable backup of travelers trying to pass through airport security
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in replacement
a person or thing that takes the place of another
you didn't get the lead position, but you can be the backup to the chosen singer
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to testify (to)
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in makeshift
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of back (up)
Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
Police then called in additional reinforcements to block Monument Circle from vehicle and foot traffic, and requested SWAT officers for backup.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There's no slippage, either, in the entire ensemble, who play a heroic number of supporting characters and allow Abate to create delightful dances beyond the standard movement and gestures that traditionally belong to backups.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Most are backups or, at best, 1-B options, including Jake Allen and David Rittich.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Adjective
Two nearby officers, who heard the gunshots while on an unrelated call, radioed for backup.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
Police then called in additional reinforcements to block Monument Circle from vehicle and foot traffic, and requested SWAT officers for backup.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There's no slippage, either, in the entire ensemble, who play a heroic number of supporting characters and allow Abate to create delightful dances beyond the standard movement and gestures that traditionally belong to backups.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Most are backups or, at best, 1-B options, including Jake Allen and David Rittich.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Noun
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Amanda Edwards/WireImage Unlike luxury fashion or high-end accessories, where scarcity is often a deliberate strategy to generate buzz, products like jam and wine fall into the realm of everyday indulgences.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
Will Warren escaped a jam, however, and Winans never entered the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Use it as an assistant for your work, not as a replacement.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Hershey had announced in January that Michele Buck, who had been CEO for over seven years, would retire next year and would transition to a senior advisor role once a replacement was named.—
Neil J Kanatt,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Neither guy is particularly gelling with their mixed partners either (Schneemann & Parker), which has left them mid-table.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
And if the perception in the media starts to gel that Trump is being taken for a ride by Bibi, how does Trump then respond to appearing weak?—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter.—
Wen Xie,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Charlie Tasker, a 19-year-old right-back with a strong work ethic who gets up and down the pitch, was an unused substitute in five of Brighton’s Premier League games in April before injuries affected his chances of further involvement.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
This makes sense for the cloud pioneer, as its meteoric growth was born out of infrastructure-as-a-service and its own custom silicon (e.g., Graviton, Trainium).—
Matt Kimball,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The new roadmap for schools could be challenging to administer, as the previous experience of the Maryland district bore out.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Within hours the pool would coagulate into electric-blue slush, like a gas station Slurpee.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
-
That familiar lump of expectation coagulated in my stomach and throat.—
Thomas Weddle,
Outdoor Life,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Iran rejects tight restrictions on its nuclear program and has hardened its stance after Israel and the U.S. targeted its nuclear facilities in June.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
They’d be hardened to anything that life and work threw their way.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Authorized by the Nick Drake Estate and released as a four-LP vinyl edition, the set includes over 30 previously unheard demos, alternate takes and studio outtakes, compiled across three discs.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
-
The alternate strategy was similar to Flamengo’s ploy that hurt Bayern.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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