1
as in to testify (to)
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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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of back (up)
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026
The Giants could complement a glove-first catcher like Bailey with a bat-centric backup.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
Former Napa Police Chief Jennifer Gonzales said that in addition to the need for fiscal responsibility, Cal OES needs to ensure that there is a backup plan in the event that the project runs into future challenges.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
The state is now in the process of redesigning a new system that will rely on two statewide 911 providers, one to act as a primary provider and another as backup.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026
The Giants could complement a glove-first catcher like Bailey with a bat-centric backup.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
And Malachi Smith, the backup point guard who was meant to fill somewhat of a Hassan Diarra role, has played less than eight minutes in each of the last three outings.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
Former Napa Police Chief Jennifer Gonzales said that in addition to the need for fiscal responsibility, Cal OES needs to ensure that there is a backup plan in the event that the project runs into future challenges.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
-
These showers will gel into a steadier rain Thursday night into Friday morning.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Here, Segall abandons all instruments to concentrate on vocals, leaving his session players to gel into a real band.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Grandma Syl’s flaky cream cheese pastry was shaped into tiny triangles framing sweet dollops of her homemade raspberry and apricot-pineapple jams.—
Betsy Andrews,
Saveur,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Their berries are great for smoothies, jams, and sauces.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After the Maduro regime barred Machado, both academic Corina Yoris and former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales were considered as possible replacements.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Bryan Griffin, the founder of Patriot Maids Cleaning Services, agrees and says regular replacement will help prevent the spread of germs and maintain better kitchen hygiene.—
Jane Kim,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While outreach workers will be hitting homeless encampments throughout the city, encouraging people to go to shelters during the storm, the city will not be tearing down the makeshift shanties the homeless have built before Sunday’s storm, Mamdani said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Across California, the number of people living in vehicles has surged in recent years, as soaring rents and a chronic housing shortage have pushed even full-time workers out of traditional homes and into makeshift ones on wheels.—
Jeffrey Kopp,Kate Rogers,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His advanced numbers bear out his decline.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The latter Redfellow is targeting the seven Redfellows who stand in the way of the $28 billion family fortune that he and his late mother were denied after he was born out of wedlock.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Do not use warm or hot water since this can actually cause the blood to coagulate.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The honey was too thick and caused the sauce to kind of coagulate.—
Brittany Loggins,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Wolfsburg substitute Mattias Svanberg restored his team’s lead eight minutes later, but Gruda replied in the 89th to salvage a point for Leipzig after its German Cup exit to Bayern Munich.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Salmon had already appeared for Arsenal as a substitute in the previous round against Portsmouth, as well as in Champions League win away to Club Brugge.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For their part, the proxy advisory firms began grading directors based on climate impact and other ESG topics instead of the financial performance of their companies.—
Robert Profusek,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
His family emigrated to escape the proxy Cold War conflicts that ravaged the nation from 1978 to 1990.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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