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)
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The team will release quarterback Kirk Cousins on March 11, the start of the new NFL business year, and backups Easton Stick and Emory Jones are set to be free agents.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Bloomberg, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes remained out with an ankle injury.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
That includes his former longtime backup quarterback Chase Daniel.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The team will release quarterback Kirk Cousins on March 11, the start of the new NFL business year, and backups Easton Stick and Emory Jones are set to be free agents.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Yet, in the pursuit of its mission, Sweetgreen repeatedly ran into costly supply issues — often without sufficient backup plans.
—Bloomberg, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes remained out with an ankle injury.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
-
If something isn’t exactly gelling, this is the stage to mix it up in makeup, hair, costumes, whatever needs to be fixed.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2026
-
His dark brunette hair was neatly gelled to the side.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These stir-together chocolate sandwich cookies are held together by a thin layer of raspberry jam.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Place about 1/2 teaspoon of jam or hazelnut spread in center of each circle.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The ruling establishment will want to move quickly to show stability in the republic, with members of the assembly expected to convene soon to deliberate over possible candidates before naming Khamenei’s replacement.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
As a bonus, those seasons are ideal for planting a replacement shrub or re-establishing a lawn if it is damaged during the shrub removal.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Wen-Lone Chou tested illegally built ghost guns in a makeshift shooting range in the basement of his Long Island home, authorities allege.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Quite quickly after the judges picked a winner in the Quickfire Challenge, crews darted in to clean up the makeshift kitchen stacked with Bosch appliances and aluminum tables serving as workspaces.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Reggaeton was born out of a call for freedom, equality and justice.—
Brendan Frizzell,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2026
-
That could bear out to be true if February's losses in the major averages means enough of the AI excess has been flushed out of the stock market, meaning investors feel readier to embrace the trade.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 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
-
Both companies say their programs, known as large language models, aren’t a substitute for professional care and shouldn’t be used to diagnose medical conditions.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Combine them with water to use as an egg substitute in recipes.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
An effort to keep the proxy network alive that has American blood on its hands.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Suleimani, an Arabic speaker, was a central figure in the formation of Iran’s proxy constellation.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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