1
as in jams
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 replacements
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backups
Water Is Your Friend According to sewer and drain specialist Tyler Pittenger, a long flush of water after using the disposal is the best way to prevent clogs and backups.
—
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026
Those newcomers, along with a few returning backups in Connor Meadows, Camp Lott and Owen Spell, give the Knights their core group heading into the 2026 season.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Free-agent signing James Hudson and 2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant are currently the top backups.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Instead of configuring separate services, this plan includes hosting, a free domain for one year, SSL, email accounts, and daily backups.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Drivers and transit riders reported heavy backups as crews responded.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
Some of the best catchers, best players, in this sport started as backups.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The lineup Sunday — which was scheduled to be a day game following a late-afternoon Saturday matchup and before the Dodgers head to Toronto for a World Series rematch — included backups in right field, third base and behind the plate.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
That led Smith to throw to a collection of rookies, journeymen and backups.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 10 Apr. 2026
Those newcomers, along with a few returning backups in Connor Meadows, Camp Lott and Owen Spell, give the Knights their core group heading into the 2026 season.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Free-agent signing James Hudson and 2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant are currently the top backups.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Instead of configuring separate services, this plan includes hosting, a free domain for one year, SSL, email accounts, and daily backups.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Drivers and transit riders reported heavy backups as crews responded.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026
Some of the best catchers, best players, in this sport started as backups.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
The lineup Sunday — which was scheduled to be a day game following a late-afternoon Saturday matchup and before the Dodgers head to Toronto for a World Series rematch — included backups in right field, third base and behind the plate.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
That led Smith to throw to a collection of rookies, journeymen and backups.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backups
Noun
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This breathless, busy sci-fi adventure ram-jams through space, time and the past 50 years of popular cinema history as our characters bop from planet to planet, making various stops and side quests.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
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Brustad’s husband of 56 years runs the audio and visual equipment for the community jams.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Decapitation strikes won’t do it—the Guards have a bench of replacements handy for each senior post, and their forces are fighting to protect the system, not any individual.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
6 Apr. 2026
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Between there and the national park’s Douglas Environmental Center in Gary’s Miller neighborhood will be another costly section, with some bridge replacements in store.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Squeezing through ‘pinch points’ Our model showed that the squirrel’s best habitat persists in a network of pinch points, bottlenecks where development and infrastructure funnel movement into a limited set of pathways.—
Eve Bohnett,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
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Those bottlenecks appeared to be clearing this week as agents began receiving backpay after Trump signed an executive order.—
Kevin Freking,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Almond extract brands and substitutes Recipes developed in the BA Test Kitchen rely on Nielsen-Massey Pure Almond Extract.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backups. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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