1
as in to testify (to)
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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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as in makeshift
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of back (up)
Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Having a quarterback with no game experience serving as the backup is certainly a risk, but there has been a lot of buzz surrounding Grunkemeyer.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi had previously said Carr could either serve as the backup or the third emergency quarterback Sunday.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
Solar panels sit on top of the feeder to provide power to the camera and the rechargeable battery provides backup for cloudy days.
—Brittany Vanderbill, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back (up) 
Noun
Outlook: Threats’ role was seen primarily as a backup in the secondary.
—Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Having a quarterback with no game experience serving as the backup is certainly a risk, but there has been a lot of buzz surrounding Grunkemeyer.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi had previously said Carr could either serve as the backup or the third emergency quarterback Sunday.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
Solar panels sit on top of the feeder to provide power to the camera and the rechargeable battery provides backup for cloudy days.
—Brittany Vanderbill, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
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Chika: Also, our individual performances came together and gelled.Billboard Japan, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
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But everything just gelled, the success of us getting to work together, my touring and everything else fell into place.Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Chocolate or Nutella babka is a favorite at the holidays, but these breads can also be made with jams, nuts, and spiced fillings.Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2024
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In addition, ice storms can create black ice -- patchy ice on roadways or other transportation surfaces that cannot easily be seen -- and ice jams in lakes and streams, which can contribute to severe flooding, the NWS said.Max Golembo, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who recently received hip replacement surgery for a fall, is one of the most influential Democrats at 84.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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And, perhaps most importantly, retrofits involve less disruption to daily operations compared to full equipment replacement.Thomas Grizzetti, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sometimes a parent’s instincts are born out of their own experiences.Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 16 Dec. 2024
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Historically, the reluctance of insurance companies to cover obesity medications is born out of a belief that obesity is a personal failing.Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
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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Use as an Egg Substitute Flaxseeds are a common egg substitute, especially in vegan or allergy-friendly recipes.Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, Health, 16 Dec. 2024
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But there’s still no substitute for the experience of watching an actor crawl into the skin of another person and take them out for a spin.Vulture Editors, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Both sides are trying to innovate better ways to spoof, jam, and disrupt enemy communications, particularly drones, while simultaneously working to harden their own systems against hostile signals.Justin Ling, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
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Interestingly, the satellites won’t be hardened against radiation.John Koetsier, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The actress rose to fame from her lovable performances on not one but two Netflix period-piece TV shows: Derry Girls, set in ‘80s Northern Ireland, and Bridgerton, which takes place in an alternate version of Regency-era London.Christian Holub, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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Missionary feels like an object plucked from the alternate universe where Snoop joined the Aftermath fold after the Master P deal.Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
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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 30 Dec. 2024.
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