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
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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
1
as in to testify (to)
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in makeshift
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of back (up)
Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
Police then called in additional reinforcements to block Monument Circle from vehicle and foot traffic, and requested SWAT officers for backup.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There's no slippage, either, in the entire ensemble, who play a heroic number of supporting characters and allow Abate to create delightful dances beyond the standard movement and gestures that traditionally belong to backups.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Most are backups or, at best, 1-B options, including Jake Allen and David Rittich.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Adjective
Two nearby officers, who heard the gunshots while on an unrelated call, radioed for backup.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
Police then called in additional reinforcements to block Monument Circle from vehicle and foot traffic, and requested SWAT officers for backup.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There's no slippage, either, in the entire ensemble, who play a heroic number of supporting characters and allow Abate to create delightful dances beyond the standard movement and gestures that traditionally belong to backups.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Most are backups or, at best, 1-B options, including Jake Allen and David Rittich.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Noun
-
Amanda Edwards/WireImage Unlike luxury fashion or high-end accessories, where scarcity is often a deliberate strategy to generate buzz, products like jam and wine fall into the realm of everyday indulgences.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
Will Warren escaped a jam, however, and Winans never entered the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Use it as an assistant for your work, not as a replacement.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Hershey had announced in January that Michele Buck, who had been CEO for over seven years, would retire next year and would transition to a senior advisor role once a replacement was named.—
Neil J Kanatt,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Neither guy is particularly gelling with their mixed partners either (Schneemann & Parker), which has left them mid-table.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
And if the perception in the media starts to gel that Trump is being taken for a ride by Bibi, how does Trump then respond to appearing weak?—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter.—
Wen Xie,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Charlie Tasker, a 19-year-old right-back with a strong work ethic who gets up and down the pitch, was an unused substitute in five of Brighton’s Premier League games in April before injuries affected his chances of further involvement.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
This makes sense for the cloud pioneer, as its meteoric growth was born out of infrastructure-as-a-service and its own custom silicon (e.g., Graviton, Trainium).—
Matt Kimball,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The new roadmap for schools could be challenging to administer, as the previous experience of the Maryland district bore out.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Within hours the pool would coagulate into electric-blue slush, like a gas station Slurpee.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
-
That familiar lump of expectation coagulated in my stomach and throat.—
Thomas Weddle,
Outdoor Life,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Tehran's rejection shows that U.S. pressure has hardened its stance, narrowing oversight after damage to its nuclear sites and suspended inspections.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
Many had been taught to feel shame in Native culture and language at Indian boarding schools; others had been hardened by prison stints or by the harsh realities of urban poverty.—
Nick Estes,
New Yorker,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
In its letter to the city announcing the event’s cancellation acquired by the Sentinel, the Rotary asked the City of Maitland to consider allowing the club to use the park for an alternate fundraising activity in the future.—
Zoey Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
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Authorized by the Nick Drake Estate and released as a four-LP vinyl edition, the set includes over 30 previously unheard demos, alternate takes and studio outtakes, compiled across three discs.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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