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
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as in makeshift
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back (up)
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Williams could make some sense as a natural backup to Adebayo if Ware is dealt.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
This time around, the PGA of America set a soft deadline for the end of March for Woods to decide, and its backup plan was to have a list of candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to consider if Woods chose not to be captain.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
Wembanyana’s backup is Luke Kornet, who has played for six teams since going undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2017.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Williams could make some sense as a natural backup to Adebayo if Ware is dealt.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
UConn, now with its roster at nine, will still be looking to add a rotational four-man and a backup combo guard before filling out the remaining roster spots with depth pieces.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
This time around, the PGA of America set a soft deadline for the end of March for Woods to decide, and its backup plan was to have a list of candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to consider if Woods chose not to be captain.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
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Some recipes also include pectin, a natural gelling agent that helps the jam set to a spreadable texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
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There was no guarantee this collection of players would gel at all, let alone at the exact right time.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Wexler induced a groundball to second as the Cobras defense turned a double play to escape the jam.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The outing wasn’t free of some jams, but Wright worked out of them with poise.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Instead, as Quick reported, Dundon has already been canvassing the basketball world for Splitter’s possible replacement while clearly not caring about the awful optics.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The replacement was made possible by the generous donation of an anonymous person, done in honor of his history-loving deceased wife.—
Janet Kusterer,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Shortly thereafter, transfer and compatibility tests were conducted at Picatinny Arsenal, and approximately a dozen warheads were assembled, one of which was tested on a makeshift test range bunker, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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Soliman is accused of using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to burn people who’d gathered on the popular pedestrian mall for a weekly demonstration urging the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The residences were born out of necessity but have become cherished events for the thousands in the band’s cult.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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Part of this was born out of necessity when working with limited materials.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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Anouk Denton The versatile 22-year-old defender came on as a late substitute in England’s 2-0 win over Ghana in December, shortly before moving from West Ham United to Bay FC.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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So, in Swalwell’s case, the Democratic Party alone wouldn’t be entitled to select his substitute — unless the law were changed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Miad Maleki, who played a central role in Treasury Department sanctions campaigns against Iran and its network of proxy groups, said in an on-camera interview the current moment reflects a rare convergence of economic, political and diplomatic leverage against Tehran.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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It was widely seen as a major geopolitical breakthrough that reduced the risk of direct and proxy conflict, said Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a researcher at the Center of Economic and Law Studies in Indonesia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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