back (up) 1 of 3

verb

Definition of back (up)next
1
as in to testify (to)

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2
as in to gel

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backup

2 of 3

noun

ˈbak-ˌəp How to pronounce backup (audio)
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

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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

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backup

3 of 3

adjective

as in makeshift

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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)
Noun
With starting catcher Will Smith sidelined indefinitely because of a neck injury, Alfonzo has served as the backup to Dalton Rushing for the last two weeks. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 But the real star of her segment were her adorable backup dancers, the Ugandan dance troupe Ghetto Kids, who grinned throughout the number. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026
Adjective
One of the biggest criticisms is that JAM Software will not provide backup installation files or license keys to customers with unsupported licenses. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 Satellite internet can reach rural homes, farms, ships, planes, emergency teams and businesses that need backup connectivity. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
  1. bear out
  2. gel
  3. jam
  4. replacement
  5. makeshift
  6. coagulate
  7. substitute
  8. proxy
Verb
  • The undulating synth lead seems tailored to mimic the tone and timbre of a classical Indian singer, a comparison borne out by the occasional flashes of vocal sample peeking through the mix.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026
  • The tactic was born out of the idea that the budget chains have gotten unaffordable.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of bear out
Verb
  • Both have had time to gel as a squad, and both have managers who know how to get over the line.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Here, her natural hair was styled in a sleek, avant-garde aesthetic that gelled her front layer in a sharp wave over her forehead.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of gel
Noun
  • Dallas is in a difficult salary-cap jam — sitting a little more than $1 million over the limit after this signing — and getting Robertson signed to a long-term commitment would have meant a higher cap hit and cuts elsewhere.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Mederos, a right-hander, came on with two outs and the tying run on third and got out of that jam.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of jam
Noun
  • Those close to Villa say Rogers was worth 14 goals a season, so sourcing a replacement was critical.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The Panthers had already moved to protect themselves on the left side, signing veteran tackle Rasheed Walker in March as a potential replacement for Ekwonu.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of replacement
Adjective
  • Eileen Tyrrell, a 27-year-old bookseller, pulled the cushions off her couch to arrange makeshift seating in her Brooklyn apartment.
    — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • In the clip, Honey is seen sitting on Jenner’s lap on a boat together and jumping into a makeshift pool on the beach as Jenner watches her.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Definition of makeshift
Verb
  • 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
  • If an egg cracks during boiling, vinegar can help the egg white coagulate faster, preventing it from leaking into the water.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of coagulate
Noun
  • The organizations getting beyond experimentation are redesigning their workflows around collaboration between AI and humans, rather than viewing one as a substitute for the other.
    — Tony Bates, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • In response, Paramount argued that the Paramount and WBD cable lineups are complementary — and not market substitutes — and that cable providers will still want access to all of the channels.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of substitute
Adjective
  • These situations often involve activist campaigns, proxy contests, and hostile takeovers, where each move can shape the future of an entire company.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • But the contest over the first-in-the-nation primaries has also become a proxy war over the future of the Party.
    — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of proxy

Browse Nearby Words

backtracks
back (up)
backup
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Cite this Entry

“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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