View synonyms for backup

backup

[ bak-uhp ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person or thing that supports or reinforces another.
a musician or singer or group of musicians or singers accompanying a soloist:
a singer with a three-man backup that plays cello, bass, and guitar.
an overflow or accumulation due to stoppage, malfunctioning, etc.:
a sewage backup; a backup of cars at the tollbooth.
a person, plan, device, etc., kept in reserve to serve as a substitute, if needed.
Computers.
1. a copy or duplicate version, especially of a file, program, or entire computer system, retained for use in the event that the original is in some way rendered unusable.
2. a procedure to follow in such an event.
Bowling. a ball that curves in a direction corresponding to the bowling hand of the bowler.

(of a person, plan, device, etc.) held in reserve as a substitute if needed:
a backup driver; a backup generator.
performing a secondary or supporting function:
A drummer and guitarist are the singer's backup musicians.

Origin of backup¹

1775–85, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase back up

Sometimes, they had a backup aim if their main goal fell through as the night dragged on.

In early October, Health Republic allowed me to submit a “grievance claim” which I filed, along with a pile of backup documents.

At 12:02 p.m., Wilson called in his location and asked the dispatcher for backup.

Backup dancers materialize, sparking a torrent of eye-catching choreography.

She retreated into the lobby, but only to call for backup and an ambulance.

She could swap out a dead bot for a backup in five minutes flat, which is all that crowd-control would permit.

My cochlea struck twelve noon and a HUD appeared with my weekly backup reminder.

My next-most-recent backup was three years old, dating from the completion of my second symphony.

I stopped in front of the backup terminal in the gateway between Liberty Square and Fantasyland.

I had prepared a written synopsis of the events since her last backup for her, and she read it over the next couple days.

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