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)
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
All cavers should have a helmet, three light sources, backup batteries, knee and elbow pads, gloves, and sturdy boots.
—Heide Brandes, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers made moving the ball look easy, even with their third-stringers playing wide receiver and backups at running back and key offensive line spots.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Verb
Shilo's younger brother, Shedeur Sanders, is the backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
All cavers should have a helmet, three light sources, backup batteries, knee and elbow pads, gloves, and sturdy boots.
—Heide Brandes, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Sunday, the Chargers were without Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III, their top tackles, plus Jamaree Salyer, one of their best backups, was also sidelined by an injury.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers made moving the ball look easy, even with their third-stringers playing wide receiver and backups at running back and key offensive line spots.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Noun
-
Jacob Misiorowski provided four innings of one-run ball for Milwaukee, and his fellow rookie, Chad Patrick, pitched the club out of a massive jam to keep Milwaukee ahead in the sixth.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Grandmothers elevate something as simple as toast and jam to high status.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dave Brubeck, already an accomplished jazz pianist, serving in a military band at a Riverside, California, base, was reassigned, trained, then shipped overseas as a replacement infantry rifleman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The buckets are used as a replacement for the standard cardboard Happy Meal box and can double as a candy pail to use for trick-or-treating on Halloween.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blashill opened his first training camp as Blackhawks coach hoping Bedard, Burakovsky and Ryan Donato would gel as a line.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Biadasz came to the Commanders last year after spending his first four years with the Dallas Cowboys, so the veteran center and rookie quarterback had to get to work quickly in order to gel with each other.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy dealing with injury issues, the Chiefs' offense has been forced to deploy a makeshift WR depth chart in their 3-3 start.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Completely nude and covered in suds, Jeff makes a run for his secret hideaway in the store, clumsily vaulting himself over a toy rack and makeshift wall to do so.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There are no substitutes named, nor a coach.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business.—
Lara Abrash,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Part of that evolution was, admittedly, born out of necessity.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the new parental rights policies, born out of anger over claims that districts are trying to indoctrinate children, actually duplicate processes that already existed.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Researchers tasted the first trials of ant yogurt, where the milk had begun to coagulate and acidify, which are signs of early yogurt fermentation.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Tofu is more minimally processed and made from unfermented, coagulated soy milk.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
During a chase scene between Eve, Ares, and Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), various life-size Dillinger lightcycles were created for the actors to ride on, alongside proxy motorcycles.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
According to the proxy statement, owned by Musk—and his brother and board colleague Kimbal Musk—can be voted for the two key comp proposals.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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