1
as in to testify (to)
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
as in makeshift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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)
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
In December, with Huntley back as the team’s backup, Thompson was waived.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025
The blowback put Hegseth’s nomination on shaky ground, with some Republican senators appearing to waver, Trump allies expressing doubts and Trump flirting with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a backup if Hegseth failed to get confirmed.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Pro tip: Prioritize regular backups to safeguard your data
Making data backups a regular part of your iPhone maintenance is crucial.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back (up) 
Noun
Beck was part of two national titles at Georgia but both as a backup.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
In December, with Huntley back as the team’s backup, Thompson was waived.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025
The blowback put Hegseth’s nomination on shaky ground, with some Republican senators appearing to waver, Trump allies expressing doubts and Trump flirting with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a backup if Hegseth failed to get confirmed.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Pro tip: Prioritize regular backups to safeguard your data
Making data backups a regular part of your iPhone maintenance is crucial.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
-
Within a few years, the Hawks gelled into a studied, tight backing band.—
Randall Roberts,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
-
There’s a sizable B-plot featuring Jodie Turner-Smith’s Gracie — a Bahamian woman suffering a crisis of faith regarding how best to abide by her grandmother’s African religion — that never gels with the bright white A-story.—
Erin Strecker,
IndieWire,
17 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Bakewell has several signature dishes, including the jam pastry Bakewell Pudding and the Bakewell Tart, a shortcrust pastry made with jam and almonds.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
EW.com,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The club lounge is well worth the upgrade, with beef noodle soup and black sesame croissants at breakfast, hojicha scones with Taiwanese pink guava jam for afternoon tea, and an outdoor terrace that feels like an urban oasis.—
Amber Gibson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Still, the team will begin preseason training Wednesday without a permanent replacement for coach Becki Tweed and with Parsons just a week into his job replacing general manager Angela Mangano Hucles.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Short has major-league experience around the infield and profiles as a replacement for Grae Kessinger, whom Houston traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in January.—
Chandler Rome,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The success of Netflix’s Atypical and The Night Agent likely put the Chicago-area native in a favorable position to sell Back in Action, a spy action-comedy that was born out of Gordon’s original premise of how children would impact the espionage careers of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Building trades members filling the Council chamber bore out their support.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Antonio ended up in intensive care at Dell’s Children's Medical Center and was gaunt, his blood coagulating.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American-Statesman,
24 Nov. 2024
-
As a preventative course of treatment, people with the blood disorder receive weekly injections of factor IX to enable their blood to coagulate, said GOSH.—
Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK,
theweek,
27 June 2024
Noun
-
Bao and Broth The OG Tofu Bun: Crispy Tofu is a great substitute for the menu’s 5-spice Pork Belly Bun.—
Sunny Hubler,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Jan. 2025
-
But these posts aren’t a substitute for actual community and support.—
Maytal Eyal,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
These processes need to be sufficiently hardened by providers to prevent trivial abuse by these attackers and to maintain the security benefits of using passkeys.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Let the wax harden before popping the waxy dryer lint firestarters out of the carton.—
Rabekah Henderson,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
When it’s bruised or strained, alternate applications of heat and ice are often used to promote healing.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Riot Act is a rebellious YA novel set in an alternate 1991 following Gigi, a fearless theater kid rallying her classmates to stage Shakespeare in defiance of a totalitarian regime.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near back (up)
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share