backs (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of back (up)
1
as in testifies (to)

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2
as in coagulates

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs (up)
  1. bears out
  2. hardens
  3. witnesses
  4. sets
  5. congeals
Verb
  • Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Wildlife officials say recent drought conditions have reduced natural food sources in parts of Colorado, pushing bears out of the mountains and into communities in search of food.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bears out
Verb
  • This buildup, called plaque, narrows and hardens the arteries, causing health problems.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Oil prices are ticking up, as Iran hardens its stance over control of the Strait of Hormuz and other demands to end the war, dashing hopes for a quick deal to reopen the waterway.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardens
Verb
  • Set at an Andes ski resort in post-Pinochet Chile, the story unfolds through the eyes of a young girl who witnesses unsettling events that test her loyalties.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • After Yancy witnesses the murder of Florida’s finest fixer, an ambitious state attorney teams him up with a strait-laced forensic accountant to solve the crime.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of witnesses
Verb
  • Brink appreciates the example the former league MVP sets for her peers.
    — John W. Davis, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For Greska, however, the slower pace is what sets the journey apart.
    — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sets
Verb
  • When the cast finally congeals at Kyle’s summer solstice party, Rachel is right up in there in the mix.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
Definition of congeals
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.

Browse Nearby Words

backstreets
backs (up)
backs (up or away)
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Cite this Entry

“Backs (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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