backing

American  

[bak-ing] / ˈbæk ɪŋ /

noun

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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of backing

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

Example Sentences

Anthropic earlier this month announced a $1.5 billion joint venture with several private-equity and investment firms that aims to sell AI tools to middle-market companies, including those with PE backing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The San Francisco resident, political independent and mother of three said the idea that tech leaders are backing Mahan because they believe he will scratch their back in business is wrong.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Both companies have backing from Nvidia, which announced in March that it was investing $2 billion in both Lumentum and Coherent, along with multibillion-dollar purchase commitments with the two companies.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

During the same period, an independent expenditure backing Mahan called Back to Basics raised about $22.7 million, while another launched by the group Deliver for California raised nearly $3.3 million.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 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

Related Words

• advocacy
• aid
• assistance
• encouragement
• endorsement
• help
• sponsorship
• subsidy