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)
Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
In the meantime, the Angels called up catcher Logan Porter to be Logan O’Hoppe’s backup.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Hoefer says when paired with a battery, the devices could provide temporary backup power during an outage.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
And Brandi Carlile's doing backups on it.
—Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
In the meantime, the Angels called up catcher Logan Porter to be Logan O’Hoppe’s backup.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Adjective
Pyotr Kochetkov was the backup goalie with Andersen serving as the emergency goaltender.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Hoefer says when paired with a battery, the devices could provide temporary backup power during an outage.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
-
Trading posts continue a system born out of the horrific Navajo livestock reduction program.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Related Stories That conviction has since been borne out by the numbers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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
-
Press’d also offers a variety of sandwiches and sourdough toasts like the Coastline Melt (panini with ham, gouda cheese, sliced tomatoes, hot peach jam and signature sauce on a focaccia bread; $12) and the Avo Deluxe (avocado, cherry tomatoes, balsamic drizzle, everything seasoning; $11).—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
Escaping the jam in the first was a huge momentum lift, aided by a clutch play from Hebert at third place to throw out a runner trying to score on a one-out ground ball to her.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The impact was felt almost immediately as his replacement, Mitchell Robinson, committed a flagrant foul that allowed San Antonio to return the favor with a six-point sequence, stretching the lead back to double digits.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Legislators passed a law two years ago barring the use of that barcode for the official vote count beyond July 1 of this year, but no replacement method of tabulating votes was ever implemented.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Outside of their sheltered practice area, kids played on a carousel and ran around playing makeshift games of tag.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
-
Today’s options are available in a range of finishes, silhouettes, and configurations for a dedicated office or makeshift workspace.—
Vy Yang,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Raw milk is treated with heat, acid, or enzymes to coagulate it into two distinct substances: curds, which become cheese, and whey, which was, at least until recently, the cheesemaking process’s unlovely by-product.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Sparkling water may be a good substitute for soda.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
9 June 2026
-
Teams were allowed two substitutes, a rule first introduced for the 1990 tournament, and a new provision allowed a third for an injured goalkeeper or a keeper who received a red card.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
And Iran's failure to cut off support for its proxy force, Hezbollah, may not be enough for America's partner, Israel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Anthropic’s secure deployment guidance explicitly recommends proxy credential injection.—
Art Gilliland,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
