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Synonyms

backing

American  
[bak-ing] / ˈbæk ɪŋ /

noun

  • backings
    plural
  1. aid or support of any kind.

    Synonyms:
    encouragement, patronage, sanction, sponsorship, endorsement, assistance, help
  2. supporters or backers collectively.

  3. something that forms the back or is placed at or attached to the back of anything to support, strengthen, or protect it.

  4. Theater. a curtain or flat placed behind a window, entrance, or other opening in a stage set to conceal the offstage area.

  5. material for backing a joist or rafter.

  6. a bevel given to the outer and upper edge of a hip rafter.

  7. the musical accompaniment for a soloist; backup.


backing British  
/ ˈbækɪŋ /

noun

  1. support given to a person, cause, or enterprise

  2. a body of supporters

  3. something that forms, protects, supports, or strengthens the back of something

  4. theatre a scenic cloth or flat placed behind a window, door, etc, in a set to mask the offstage space

  5. musical accompaniment, esp for a pop singer

  6. the support in gold or precious metals for a country's issue of money in notes

  7. meteorol an anticlockwise change in wind direction

  8. a passageway running behind a row of terraced houses

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of backing

First recorded in 1590–1600; back 1 + -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing backing

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.

See Examples For:

Yet, it was a signal of Alonso and Chelsea's backing when Reece James left the field he passed his long-time vice-captain the armband as usual.

From BBC Aug. 15, 2026

Macron had in July thanked members of parliament for backing the legislation and pledged to enforce it by September.

From Barron's Aug. 14, 2026

A few years later, he launched his own talk show with Winfrey’s backing.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 14, 2026

Larson, a progressive, had support from more-moderate Democrats in Congress, while Bronin, a 47-year-old Navy veteran, ran mostly on generational change with the backing of the Connecticut Democratic Party.

From Slate Aug. 12, 2026

Francis looked for numbers on the mailboxes, nosing into one false trail after another and backing out again, cursing, grinding the gears.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Many of Clarke's poems were originally released with musical backings masterminded by producer Martin Hannett, who was known for his work with Joy Division.

From BBC Mar. 23, 2025

At that point, bank targets may be persuaded to do deals not because they need the liquidity, but to show they have the backings of large institutional investors.

From Reuters Mar. 14, 2023

Dennis Reed, a proprietor of Hi-Tek Redneck Karaoke & DJ Service, served as the M.C. while overseeing the sound system and musical backings.

From New York Times Aug. 24, 2022

Ms. Kokoszka described the members as having “unselfishly donated their time, talents, fabrics, battings, backings, bindings and labels for the making of the quilts each of our honored guests will receive tonight.”

From Washington Times Oct. 24, 2020

We make complicated floral patterns with a compass, we glue odd substances to cardboard backings: feathers, sequins, pieces of macaroni garishly dyed, lengths of drinking straw.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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