1
as in jams
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
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2
as in replacements
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backups
During peak commuting hours, backups are common, especially near the intersection of North Pleasant Grove and Riego Road.
—
Conor McGill, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The new tunnel is meant to ease strain on an existing one that is more than 110 years old and connects New York and New Jersey for Amtrak and commuter trains, where delays can lead to backups up and down the East Coast.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The new tunnel is meant to ease strain on an existing, over 110-year-old tunnel that connects New York and New Jersey for Amtrak and commuter trains, where delays can lead to backups up and down the East Coast.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Cox, Williams and McLaughlin are backups looking to step up.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Look for services that advertise end-to-end or client-side encryption, such as Signal for messages, or Apple's Advanced Data Protection option for iCloud backups.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of storing toilet paper rolls away behind a cabinet door or in the garage, this clever toilet paper stand holds your current roll as well as three extra backups.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
And again backups, two-way players and unknowns found a way against Erik Spoelstra’s team, with the Heat falling 125-118 Saturday night at Kaseya Center.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
When traffic is heavy or there are backups because of crashes or road work, onramp meters are activated.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Conor McGill, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The new tunnel is meant to ease strain on an existing one that is more than 110 years old and connects New York and New Jersey for Amtrak and commuter trains, where delays can lead to backups up and down the East Coast.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The new tunnel is meant to ease strain on an existing, over 110-year-old tunnel that connects New York and New Jersey for Amtrak and commuter trains, where delays can lead to backups up and down the East Coast.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Cox, Williams and McLaughlin are backups looking to step up.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Look for services that advertise end-to-end or client-side encryption, such as Signal for messages, or Apple's Advanced Data Protection option for iCloud backups.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of storing toilet paper rolls away behind a cabinet door or in the garage, this clever toilet paper stand holds your current roll as well as three extra backups.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
And again backups, two-way players and unknowns found a way against Erik Spoelstra’s team, with the Heat falling 125-118 Saturday night at Kaseya Center.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
When traffic is heavy or there are backups because of crashes or road work, onramp meters are activated.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backups
Noun
-
Johnson has only nine jams per NBA shot tracking data, while Richardson has only four dunks this season.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Enjoy them raw in salads, smoothies, and juices, or up the beta carotene availability by cooking them into homemade jams, baked goods, sauces, marinades, or stews.—
Christina Manian,
Health,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The results point to a future where things like knee braces, exoskeletons, or even joint replacements could be tailored to an individual’s exact joint motion.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
As 2026 approaches, more executives are beginning to explore similar forms of digital assistance, not as replacements for human judgment, but as extensions of it.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The idea was not to replace human relationships, but to remove the bottlenecks that kept those relationships from forming in the first place.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Grocery prices have been on the rise for most of the past six years, as supply chain bottlenecks, the war in Ukraine and excessive profit-taking here in America have put a strain on consumers’ wallets.—
Joe Murphy,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As Chelsea’s staff and substitutes spilled onto the pitch to shake hands and celebrate their 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cole Palmer seemed distracted — turning around, clearly looking for something.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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If not, the market would be expanded to include nearby substitutes, with the test repeated until a profitable price hike is achieved.—
Hal Singer,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backups. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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