often attributive
1
a
: one that serves as a substitute or support
I brought an extra pencil for backup.
a backup plan
b
: musical accompaniment
The tunes include banjo and guitar backup.
c
: additional personnel who provide assistance
The police officer called for backup.
2
: an accumulation caused by a stoppage in the flow
traffic backup
3
: a copy of computer data (such as a file or the contents of a hard drive)
I made a backup copy of the file.
also
: the act or an instance of making a backup
backed up; backing up; backing up
: to accumulate in a congested state
traffic backed up for miles
1
: to move into a position behind (a teammate) in order to assist on a play
3
: to make a copy of (a computer file or data) to protect against accidental loss or corruption
Be sure to back up your work.
also
: to make copies of all the files on (a device)
a program that automatically backs up your hard drive
Synonyms
Examples of backup in a Sentence
Noun
His role on the team is to be a backup to the regular quarterback.
We have an extra radio as a backup in case this one doesn't work.
We have an extra radio for backup.
He provides backup for the regular quarterback.
She sang backup on his CD.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
PolitiFact Wisconsin reached out to Trump’s campaign for backup but did not hear back by deadline.
—Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
However, not wanting to let the man get away, Georgia police reportedly called for backup in the form of another front-loader, reports Car Scoops.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, turning off Google Photo backup will disable default gallery access entirely and disconnect all synced images.
—Paul Monckton, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The current candidates for the job - Gallimore and Harris - have been mostly NFL backups.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Melvin was in the dugout, soaking it all up as the backup to Bob Brenly.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
In a separate incident, officers responding to provide backup to the Warren police involved in the pursuit experienced an accident.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024
Chevalier then called for backup, using a radio call that typically indicated a combative situation.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
David Gilbert, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
During shifts, a truck enters the station every few minutes and backs up to the edge of a large open pit, one level down, to unload.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But the Pacers again responded, this time with a 10-4 run to bump their lead back up to eight with 1:25 left.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Hurry and add the $200 mirror to your cart for $60 before the price jumps back up.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
But the expansion expired at the end of 2021, and child poverty rates jumped back up after that.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The show returns April 12 for its 11th season in Spain, backed up by a successful track record, which averages since its 2011 debut an over 20% audience share of Antena 3 primetime.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Their results show significant levels of minor cannabinoids, backing up their claims of potency of minor cannabinoids.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Jimmy Garoppolo will back up Matthew Stafford, and Stetson Bennett is expected to participate in offseason workouts after missing his entire rookie season on the non-football injury list.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Petrino said he’s moved on to figuring out who Green’s backup will be.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2024
PolitiFact Wisconsin reached out to Trump’s campaign for backup but did not hear back by deadline.
—Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
However, not wanting to let the man get away, Georgia police reportedly called for backup in the form of another front-loader, reports Car Scoops.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, turning off Google Photo backup will disable default gallery access entirely and disconnect all synced images.
—Paul Monckton, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The current candidates for the job - Gallimore and Harris - have been mostly NFL backups.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Melvin was in the dugout, soaking it all up as the backup to Bob Brenly.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
In a separate incident, officers responding to provide backup to the Warren police involved in the pursuit experienced an accident.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024
Chevalier then called for backup, using a radio call that typically indicated a combative situation.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
Earlier this year, True the Vote was forced to admit in court that the group had no evidence to back up its claims.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
During shifts, a truck enters the station every few minutes and backs up to the edge of a large open pit, one level down, to unload.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But the Pacers again responded, this time with a 10-4 run to bump their lead back up to eight with 1:25 left.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Hurry and add the $200 mirror to your cart for $60 before the price jumps back up.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
But the expansion expired at the end of 2021, and child poverty rates jumped back up after that.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
The show returns April 12 for its 11th season in Spain, backed up by a successful track record, which averages since its 2011 debut an over 20% audience share of Antena 3 primetime.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Their results show significant levels of minor cannabinoids, backing up their claims of potency of minor cannabinoids.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Jimmy Garoppolo will back up Matthew Stafford, and Stetson Bennett is expected to participate in offseason workouts after missing his entire rookie season on the non-football injury list.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to backup
Dictionary Entries Near backup
Cite this Entry
“Backup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backup. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backup
1 of 2 noun
back·up
ˈbak-ˌəp 
1
: a person or thing that takes the place of or supports another
has a backup in case he gets sick
2
: a gathering or piling up because the flow has been stopped
a traffic backup
3
: a copy of a computer file to protect against loss of data
also
: the act or an instance of making a backup
back up
2 of 2 verb1
: to gather or pile up because the flow has been stopped
traffic backed up for miles
2
: to make a copy of (as a computer file) to protect against loss of data
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