backing

noun back·ing \ ˈba-kiŋ \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: backing in a Sentence

Definition of backing

plural backings

1 : something forming a back

a tape with adhesive backing

2 a : support, aid

financial backing

… sectarian or ethnic warlords battling for territory, with the backing of sponsors from neighboring countries.
—Aparisim Ghosh

b : the music that is played along with someone who is singing or playing the main tune : the music that accompanies the lead musician

… she plans to record the songs with the backing of an orchestra.
—Cortney Harding

c : endorsement especially of a warrant by a magistrate

See backing defined for English-language learners

See backing defined for kids

Examples of backing in a Sentence

The tape has an adhesive backing.
The project has received financial backing from several investors.

Recent Examples of backing from the Web

Canada is set to become the first Group of Seven nation to legalize recreational marijuana after a bill from Justin Trudeau’s government won the backing of the upper chamber.

— Fortune, "Canada Is Now Just One Small Step From Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Nationwide," 20 June 2018
Roy won the backing of Smith who, like Cruz, helped him raise money and campaigned before the runoff on his behalf.

— bill lambrecht, San Antonio Express-News, "Ortiz Jones to face Hurd in S.A. congressional district," 22 May 2018
If white nationalists and neo-Nazis can march through the college town of Charlottesville, Va., and win backing from the American Civil Liberties Union, the rights of demonstrators are in safe hands.

— richard wolf, USA TODAY, "What the First Amendment protects — and what it doesn't," 6 Apr. 2018
Natural gas: With the backing of utilities Eversource and National Grid, some business groups lobbied for legislation that would help the utilities expand the state’s natural gas pipeline capacity.

— jon chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Mass. lawmakers wrap up work on energy legislation," 13 July 2018
While Cynthia Nixon has had plenty of high-profile celebrity support in her bid to become New York’s next governor, Andrew Cuomo has mostly been relying on the backing of, well, the state Democratic Party machine.

— gabriella paiella, The Cut, "The Winklevoss Twins Are Reportedly Helping Host Cuomo’s Hamptons Fundraiser," 12 July 2018
His new venture has attracted the backing of City of London investors including hedge fund manager Crispin Odey.

— bloomberg, Fortune, "Martin Sorrell Sticks It To His Old Firm WPP With His Latest Deal," 10 July 2018
That quiet policy shift was one of the few being contemplated at the EPA that did not have the enthusiastic backing of congressional Republicans.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: With Scott Pruitt gone, green groups now turn the spotlight on Ryan Zinke," 9 July 2018
With the full backing of his father's fundraising machine, Andy Beshear's campaign raised a record amount for any candidate running for attorney general in Kentucky — more than $4.9 million.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Here are 10 things to know about Andy Beshear, candidate for governor," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'backing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of backing

1745

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

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backing Synonyms

BACKING Defined for English Language Learners

backing

noun

Definition of backing for English Language Learners

: something that forms a back
: support or aid
: the music that is played along with someone who is singing or playing the main tune : the music that accompanies someone