1
as in to testify (to)
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Dissimilar Words
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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of back (up)
David Troy Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
De la Fuente called up Liverpool’s latest signing, Victor Munoz, to provide reliable backup in the position, but the former Osasuna man also suffered a setback with his calf injury during the first weeks of the World Cup.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Even more so if that player is more impactful than Walker or Sheppard since those two currently project to be the Pacers backup shooting guard and small forward.
—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Noun
Still, the backups for Argentina are probably better than the best players for Jordan.
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David Troy Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
De la Fuente called up Liverpool’s latest signing, Victor Munoz, to provide reliable backup in the position, but the former Osasuna man also suffered a setback with his calf injury during the first weeks of the World Cup.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Adjective
That, however, does not include salary for goaltender Arkin Schmid, who Florida acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night to be their backup netminder.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Even more so if that player is more impactful than Walker or Sheppard since those two currently project to be the Pacers backup shooting guard and small forward.
—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back (up)
Verb
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For many years, there was the presumption that content and pipeline/distribution companies should never come together, a lesson well borne out by history.
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Their fears are borne out by statistics.
Verb
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At halftime, Irankunda and Metcalfe came on as substitutes, and the team started to gel and to threaten.
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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.
Noun
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Crawford also doubled to lead off the sixth, but Chandler worked his way out of that jam, striking out both Turner and Kyle Schwarber, then retiring Harper on a soft grounder to second.
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Others may step in when a package jams, a label fails to scan or a pallet needs human attention.
Noun
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The city said replacement parts have been ordered and officials hope to reopen the pool before the end of July.
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Wallingford also testified that inspections are not a replacement for reporting infant deaths.
Adjective
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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.
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The morgue that serves La Guaira is makeshift—a white tent on a dock lined with body bags and coffins.
Verb
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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.
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If an egg cracks during boiling, vinegar can help the egg white coagulate faster, preventing it from leaking into the water.
Noun
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Haaland, a fan favorite in the tournament, will start the match on the substitutes' bench, ESPN reported Friday.
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Mathewson noted that merely keeping abreast of the latest developments is no substitute for working with them directly.
Adjective
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Employees optimize for proxy metrics while experiencing their actual work as purposeless.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Back (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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