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
Apple has a significant recurring subscription model, including Apple Music, Apple TV and online backups.
—
Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
If the affected systems had been designed with resilience principles in mind, like geographic redundancy and continuous backups, then the loss of data could have been mitigated.
—Leonard Lim, Fortune, 10 June 2026
And Brandi Carlile's doing backups on it.
—Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore formed the center of the Patriots’ starting defensive front, as expected, with Cory Durden and Leonard Taylor as their top backups.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
In an email advising Simon ticketholders how to avoid traffic backups near The Shell on Tuesday, the symphony recommended reserving parking in advance at the IQHQ/RaDD (Research and Development District) garage and then walking about 15 minutes to the concert venue.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Do the Nuggets want to draft yet another small-ball center option when Holmes and Nnaji haven’t panned out as steady backups?
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
This is what happens when players are tracking toward being backups on a depth chart.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Plus, two younger backups in guard Kai Shinholster and forward Grayson Grove, who was thrust into the starting lineup after Crocker-Johnson’s foot injury ended his season in February.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
If the affected systems had been designed with resilience principles in mind, like geographic redundancy and continuous backups, then the loss of data could have been mitigated.
—Leonard Lim, Fortune, 10 June 2026
And Brandi Carlile's doing backups on it.
—Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore formed the center of the Patriots’ starting defensive front, as expected, with Cory Durden and Leonard Taylor as their top backups.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
In an email advising Simon ticketholders how to avoid traffic backups near The Shell on Tuesday, the symphony recommended reserving parking in advance at the IQHQ/RaDD (Research and Development District) garage and then walking about 15 minutes to the concert venue.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Do the Nuggets want to draft yet another small-ball center option when Holmes and Nnaji haven’t panned out as steady backups?
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
This is what happens when players are tracking toward being backups on a depth chart.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026
Plus, two younger backups in guard Kai Shinholster and forward Grayson Grove, who was thrust into the starting lineup after Crocker-Johnson’s foot injury ended his season in February.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backups
Noun
-
Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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Other Uses Yaupon is most commonly enjoyed as a tea, but it's also used in some gins, and foods like ice cream, plus the plant's ripe berries can be turned into jams and jellies.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
12 June 2026
Noun
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And the city of Aurora began actively searching for a whole lot of replacements for the AVAC board.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
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Now that the garden is complete aside from normal plant replacements, Sterman recognizes it as the expression of her own evolution and growth as a garden designer as well as changing views on waterwise gardening.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
Noun
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According to the researchers, the catalyst weakens excessive bonding between iron sites and hydroxyl intermediates, allowing the reaction to proceed more smoothly and reducing one of the major bottlenecks in zinc-air battery operation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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Reviewing accounts payable flow helps uncover bottlenecks, reduce delays, improve spend control and strengthen cash visibility so organizations can operate more proactively and efficiently.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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As consumers looked for other low-cost substitutes, prices rose for other types of slicing tomatoes and cherry tomatoes.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
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As a new ceremonial feature, all 26 players from each team — starters and substitutes — will participate in the ceremony by lining up around the tournament’s central emblem on the field, rather than in the traditional pregame formation.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backups. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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