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
Relevance
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
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 backups
Gugino recommends carrying backups, especially since hooks may corrode at a faster rate in saltwater.
—
Francesca Krempa, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
Montgomery will arrive with Cincinnati transfer Evan Pryor to provide returning 1,000-yard rusher Jadan Baugh experienced backups while Duke Clark and Byron Louis will push for bigger roles as redshirt freshmen in 2026.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Best to keep backups of all of that data stashed, cached, and out of harm’s way—and space makes an ideal safe deposit box.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
This could help reliably create cloud data backups in a quantum version of Dropbox or Google Drive, the researchers said.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
The landslide created a myriad of issues, the biggest being traffic backups, but PennDOT said that's a risk when the winter thaw happens.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Most teams use backups and practice squad players to build a scout team that matches up against the starters in practice.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Craig, a career firefighter who’s been chief since 2018, said peak times can be dangerous for firefighters on firetrucks trying to get around backups.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of cargo backups at these Texas ports due to unpaid employees calling in sick.
—The Npr Network, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
Francesca Krempa, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
Montgomery will arrive with Cincinnati transfer Evan Pryor to provide returning 1,000-yard rusher Jadan Baugh experienced backups while Duke Clark and Byron Louis will push for bigger roles as redshirt freshmen in 2026.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Best to keep backups of all of that data stashed, cached, and out of harm’s way—and space makes an ideal safe deposit box.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
This could help reliably create cloud data backups in a quantum version of Dropbox or Google Drive, the researchers said.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
The landslide created a myriad of issues, the biggest being traffic backups, but PennDOT said that's a risk when the winter thaw happens.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Most teams use backups and practice squad players to build a scout team that matches up against the starters in practice.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Craig, a career firefighter who’s been chief since 2018, said peak times can be dangerous for firefighters on firetrucks trying to get around backups.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of cargo backups at these Texas ports due to unpaid employees calling in sick.
—The Npr Network, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backups
Noun
-
More than 200 producers sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, breads and cheeses of every kind, charcuterie, olives and tapenades, quiches, jams, and honey—and that's just the food section.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The album’s maximalist approach, combining an array of live instruments, VSTs, and samplers, sometimes coheres into true jams.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But this session will be Polis’ last, and union groups — who have shelved plans to launch a pro-worker ballot campaign — are now starting to eye the governor’s would-be replacements.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Kennedy also fired all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel and handpicked their replacements, and has been criticized.—
Dr. Jade Cobern,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This year, Kroeze anticipates primary bottlenecks to be less about physical production capacity and more about navigating operational and regulatory challenges that demand higher adaptability and transparency.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Early on, there were manufacturing bottlenecks that resulted in short supplies of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound.—
Sean Conlon,Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the 34-year-old German helped Brighton manage the last 20 minutes of a routine 2-0 victory over second-from-bottom Burnley with efficiency, alongside fellow substitutes Danny Welbeck and James Milner, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side ended a run of six matches without a win with the minimum of fuss.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Training must emphasize that risk scores and recommendations are tools for professional judgment, not substitutes for it.—
Maureen Flatley,
Boston Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backups. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share