back up
Britishverb
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(tr) to support or assist
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(intr) cricket (of a nonstriking batsman) to move down the wicket in readiness for a run as a ball is bowled
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(of water) to accumulate
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(of traffic) to become jammed behind an accident or other obstruction
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computing to make a copy of (a data file), esp for storage in another place as a security copy
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printing to print the second side of (a sheet)
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to repeat an action immediately
noun
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a support or reinforcement
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a reserve or substitute
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( as modifier )
backup troops
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musical accompaniment, esp for a pop singer
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( as modifier )
backup singer
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the overflow from a blocked drain or pipe
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computing a file or set of files copied for security purposes
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Move or drive a vehicle backward, as in He told her to back up into the garage . [First half of 1800s]
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Bring or come to a standstill, as in The water had backed up in the drains , or The accident had backed up traffic for miles . [First half of 1800s]
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Support or strengthen, as in The photos were backed up with heavy cardboard so they couldn't be bent , or I'll back up that statement of yours . [Second half of 1700s]
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Duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost. For example, Every computer manual warns you to back up your work frequently in case of a power outage or computer failure . [Second half of 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But such thoughts tend to quickly fade as we get wrapped back up in adult responsibilities and the 9-5 grind.
From BBC
But the growth rate turned back up in the second half of the fiscal year, and Nvidia’s guidance was for more acceleration in the current quarter.
From Barron's
Oil prices moved back up toward session highs in the wake of those reported comments.
From MarketWatch
It also lets them claim their data centers are running on wind and solar power, even if the grid is backed up by fossil fuels.
Oddly, for someone trying to escape ghosts, the new house backed up to one of the oldest cemeteries in Rochester.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
