backup

[ bak-uhp ]
See synonyms for backup on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person or thing that supports or reinforces another.

  2. 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.

  1. an overflow or accumulation due to stoppage, malfunctioning, etc.: a sewage backup; a backup of cars at the tollbooth.

  2. a person, plan, device, etc., kept in reserve to serve as a substitute, if needed.

  3. Computers.

    • 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.

    • a procedure to follow in such an event.

  4. Bowling. a ball that curves in a direction corresponding to the bowling hand of the bowler.

adjective
  1. (of a person, plan, device, etc.) held in reserve as a substitute if needed: a backup driver; a backup generator.

  2. performing a secondary or supporting function: A drummer and guitarist are the singer's backup musicians.

Origin of backup

1
1775–85, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase back up

usage note For backup

See login.

Words that may be confused with backup

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use backup in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for back up

back up

verb(adverb)
  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

  1. (of water) to accumulate

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

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

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

  5. (intr, usually foll by on) Australian to repeat an action immediately

nounbackup
  1. a support or reinforcement

    • a reserve or substitute

    • (as modifier): backup troops

  1. US and Canadian

    • musical accompaniment, esp for a pop singer

    • (as modifier): backup singer

  2. the overflow from a blocked drain or pipe

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

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 Idioms and Phrases with backup

backup

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.