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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of back (up)
Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
On the Browns’ depth chart, Kenny Pickett is listed as Flacco’s backup, Gabriel is third string and Sanders is fourth.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
DiNucci, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Cowboys in 2020, played in three games in his rookie season in Dallas after the team lost Prescott for the season and backup Andy Dalton for a few games due to injuries.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins have versatility among their backups, but the quality of their backups remains questionable.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Adjective
Taylor likely gets another chance to prove his value as a backup to Zion Johnson in the exhibition finale.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
On the Browns’ depth chart, Kenny Pickett is listed as Flacco’s backup, Gabriel is third string and Sanders is fourth.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
DiNucci, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Cowboys in 2020, played in three games in his rookie season in Dallas after the team lost Prescott for the season and backup Andy Dalton for a few games due to injuries.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins have versatility among their backups, but the quality of their backups remains questionable.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Noun
-
Fairfield got out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth, after Pellegrini walked two with two out and Greyson Rehfeldt hit a ball to SJ Taxiltaridis, the shortstop, who threw to first for a close play which was called an out.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2025
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Crochet left a runner at second in the fifth, men at the corners in the sixth and worked his way out of a particularly difficult jam in the seventh when Javier Sanoja drew a leadoff walk and reached third on a wild pitch with one out.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jhon Arias and David Moller Wolfe profile as direct replacements for Cunha and Ait-Nouri, and Fer Lopez is a talented player too.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Perfect Size and Burn Time: At a standard size, the candle provides ample burn time to keep the Halloween spirit glowing throughout the season without the hassle of frequent replacements.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The redshirt senior entered spring practices already having the playbook essentially memorized and gelled with the rest of his offensive linemen almost immediately.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
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That’s actually worked out really well so far as the unlikely duo has gelled quite nicely and Flair is arguably more over as a babyface than she’s ever been.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This deep green, grass-like plant makes an ideal mow-free lawn substitute for shaded areas.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Aug. 2025
-
This would be a poor substitute for the system over which the United States had presided.—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Studies by scientists in this country do not bear out the death reports, General Groves said at a press conference here today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Aug. 2025
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Her childhood was spent working in her family’s home office or helping with their side hustle: a catering company born out of a love for cooking.—
Olivia Rose,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 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
-
But the mood in Israel hardened dramatically when, on July 31, Hamas released a video of the skeletal 21-year-old Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski, weeping and in pain.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Coconut oil will harden when cold, leaving you with solid chocolate candy for later.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And yes, an alternate theory emerged that Zoë Kravitz came across.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
-
All the speculation about alternate dimensions and cloning characters to make a DCU copy of them were just rewritten with one retcon scene.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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