1
as in to testify (to)
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
as in makeshift
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back (up)
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
In March 1997, during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Halberstam was describing a pass by then-Heat backup point guard and current Heat TV analyst John Crotty, who played at Virginia, the university founded by Thomas Jefferson.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
Do not skip the backup codes This part matters more than people realize.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
Heritage varieties act as a genetic backup library, offering traits that modern breeding programs may need to draw on later.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
In March 1997, during a game against the Golden State Warriors, Halberstam was describing a pass by then-Heat backup point guard and current Heat TV analyst John Crotty, who played at Virginia, the university founded by Thomas Jefferson.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Adjective
Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ defensive anchor and backup center helping fuel New York’s 11-game playoff winning streak, has suffered a broken right pinky finger and has no timetable for a return, a league source told The Daily News on Thursday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
Do not skip the backup codes This part matters more than people realize.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
-
It can be gelled, emulsified, and made into just about anything.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
Guardiola had to gel together a new, young team, featuring many players who were not immediately suited to playing his style of football.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The senior escaped several jams to toss a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead JSerra past La Mirada 3-2 for its first section title.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Pizza is already savory, so balance out all that salt with a drizzle of balsamic glaze or spoonfuls of fig jam.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Neto’s replacement, Nick Madrigal, left in the top of the ninth inning after Andrew Wantz’s pitch ricocheted from Madrigal’s hand to his face.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Passengers boarded a replacement flight with a new crew, which took off early Sunday morning and landed in Palma in the afternoon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Laurence, 41, a former ambulance worker, fashioned a makeshift sling for his new wife, and the couple remained at the celebration for the rest of the evening.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
More than 3,000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands, often in makeshift dinghies, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.—
Joshua McElwee,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The group’s rise echoes a trend across South Asia of youth movements born out of social media playing a central role in anti-government protests, including uprisings in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and unrest in Nepal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
-
The idea for the company was born out of his own frustrating outdoor experience.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
As most of the scientific books tell us, coagulating protein at lower temperatures produces more tender clumps; adding a little water or cream makes an omelet tenderer still.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Two dented blue bottles of Cuajo Titanium, a liquid coagulating enzyme used to curdle milk, remained on a wooden table, caked in mud.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For a vegetarian option, omit the pancetta and substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
Dietary requirements are well catered for; every possible intolerance from celery to sesame is marked on the menu, and every milk substitute is available, which surprised me in an English country hotel.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are fears that the situation could escalate and drag the volatile Tigray region into a proxy war, even as relief agencies warn of a dire humanitarian situation on the ground.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
-
Instead, existing exchange rules and proxy advisory firms dampen their voice, their governance rights, and ultimately their financial interests.—
James H. Lee,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
