back up

British  

verb

1. (tr) to support or assist

2. (intr) cricket (of a nonstriking batsman) to move down the wicket in readiness for a run as a ball is bowled

3. (of water) to accumulate

4. (of traffic) to become jammed behind an accident or other obstruction

5. computing to make a copy of (a data file), esp for storage in another place as a security copy

6. printing to print the second side of (a sheet)

7. to repeat an action immediately

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noun

1. a support or reinforcement

2. 1. a reserve or substitute

   2. ( as modifier )

      backup troops

3. 1. musical accompaniment, esp for a pop singer

   2. ( as modifier )

      backup singer

4. the overflow from a blocked drain or pipe

5. computing a file or set of files copied for security purposes

back up Idioms  

1. Move or drive a vehicle backward, as in He told her to back up into the garage . [First half of 1800s]

2. 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]

3. 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]

4. 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]

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Example Sentences

Now, a series of practical steps are needed for traffic to pick back up through the shipping chokepoint.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

"It will take time for production to ramp back up, for logistics to normalise, and for the risk premium embedded in crude prices to dissipate," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Qatar is likely to gradually restart operations in July and August, ramping up production through September and October and getting back up to about 80% of its preconflict LNG capacity by November, Munton said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

However, at some point—whether that’s this month, this year, or light years into the future—SpaceX will need to back up its valuation with the numbers.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

And he was looking right back up at Owen.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• fall back
• retreat