1
as in to testify (to)
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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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
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Within a few years, the Hawks gelled into a studied, tight backing band.—
Randall Roberts,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Both our regional electric grid manager and federal agencies have issued dire warnings of a near-term electricity reliability cliff as Maryland is closing baseload power plants prematurely with no reliable replacements in sight.—
David T. Stevenson,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The wine shop is borne out of the pizza shop's owner Anthony Guerra and his wife Brett's penchant for stocking a diverse grouping of wines to pair with their pizza.—
Lucille Sherman,
Axios,
9 Jan. 2025
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Explain Motives: Clarify that the gift to her son was born out of maternal pride, not exclusion.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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But these posts aren’t a substitute for actual community and support.—
Maytal Eyal,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2025
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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
Verb
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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
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Let the wax harden before popping the waxy dryer lint firestarters out of the carton.—
Rabekah Henderson,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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 30 Jan. 2025.
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