back (up) 1 of 3

verb

Definition of back (up)next
1
as in to testify (to)

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2
as in to gel

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backup

2 of 3

noun

ˈbak-ˌəp How to pronounce backup (audio)
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

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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

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backup

3 of 3

adjective

as in makeshift

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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)
Noun
Different software versions, and even different storage media, can preserve different file fragments and automatic backups. — Steven Melendez, Scientific American, 2 July 2026 Personal data, such as photo archives, data backups and apps and games purchased through the Apple Store, do not leave their secure iOS containers with a snap of the fingers. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Adjective
After Robinson got the first shot at the backup job, the Dodgers decided to give a chance to Alfonzo right at this unimaginably painful juncture. — Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026 Servin was called up after Langeliers’ thumb contusion as a backup catching option should Jonah Heim need to come out of the game with Langeliers out. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
  1. bear out
  2. gel
  3. jam
  4. replacement
  5. makeshift
  6. coagulate
  7. substitute
  8. proxy
Verb
  • This isn’t a talking point; it’s genuinely borne out by the numbers, both scores and earnings.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Japan's famed kei cars were born out of the country's post-war need for affordable, practical transportation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
Definition of bear out
Verb
  • At halftime, Irankunda and Metcalfe came on as substitutes, and the team started to gel and to threaten.
    — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
  • Any apprehensions about whether a first-time collaboration between Hartford’s two largest self-producing theaters — Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford — could gel smoothly enough to grasp all the nuances of this challenging work are dispelled immediately by the opening number.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
Definition of gel
Noun
  • The nearly 3,000-foot-long train was patiently idling beside the platform at East Perth Terminal, where a spread of scones, strawberry jam, clotted cream, and Bollinger champagne welcomed eager travelers.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Cottage Kitchen offers preserves and spreads made from wild- and farm-sourced ingredients, like Chandler strawberry jam and hot-pepper jelly.
    — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of jam
Noun
  • But for all Regragui’s success, replacement Mohammed Ouahbi is even more closely aligned to the national team DNA, having been in charge of the victorious under-20s side prior to stepping up.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • The lawsuit alleges the replacement tickets many fans were given by StubHub were worse than their original tickets.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of replacement
Adjective
  • On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The morgue that serves La Guaira is makeshift—a white tent on a dock lined with body bags and coffins.
    — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of makeshift
Verb
  • As most of the scientific books tell us, coagulating protein at lower temperatures produces more tender clumps; adding a little water or cream makes an omelet tenderer still.
    — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
  • If an egg cracks during boiling, vinegar can help the egg white coagulate faster, preventing it from leaking into the water.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of coagulate
Noun
  • Haaland, a fan favorite in the tournament, will start the match on the substitutes' bench, ESPN reported Friday.
    — Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Mathewson noted that merely keeping abreast of the latest developments is no substitute for working with them directly.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of substitute
Adjective
  • Employees optimize for proxy metrics while experiencing their actual work as purposeless.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • In its proxy statement, for example, Fox cited revenue growth at its popular streaming service Tubi and high ratings for Fox News and Fox Sports.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of proxy

Browse Nearby Words

backtracks
back (up)
backup
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Cite this Entry

“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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