Backup — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈbak-ˌəp/ back·up

Meaning & Definition of Backup

Backup (noun)

  1. one that serves as a substitute or support
  2. musical accompaniment
  3. additional personnel who provide assistance

Backup (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement

    "there was the inevitable backup of travelers trying to pass through airport security"

    similar: bottleneck, jam, jam-up, logjam, snarl, tailback (British), tie-up
    related: tangle, gridlock, lock, congestion, traffic, crawl, delay, slowdown, stoppage

  2. a person or thing that takes the place of another

    "you didn't get the lead position, but you can be the backup to the chosen singer"

    similar: cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub, substitute
    related: alternate, understudy, apology, makeshift, stopgap, agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate, assistant, reliever, second, successor, superseder

Backup (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in alternate, proxy

    similar: alternate, jackleg, make-do, makeshift, proxy, stopgap, substitute, acting, ad interim, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, temporary
    opposite: long-term, permanent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Backup

The most common words with a similar meaning to Backup:

British: tailback
bottleneck, jam, jam-up, logjam, snarl, tie-up, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub, substitute, alternate, jackleg, make-do, makeshift, proxy, stopgap, acting, ad interim, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, temporary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Backup

Words with the opposite meaning of Backup:

long-term, permanent

Related Words for Backup

tangle, gridlock, lock, congestion, traffic, crawl, delay, slowdown, stoppage, understudy, apology, agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, rep, representative, surrogate, assistant, reliever, second, successor, superseder

Origin & Etymology of Backup

First known use: 1910

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Backup

Frequently Asked Questions about Backup

What does "Backup" mean?

"Backup" means one that serves as a substitute or support. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one that serves as a substitute or support. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Backup"?

Other words for "Backup" include bottleneck, jam, jam-up, logjam, snarl, tailback, tie-up and cover. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Backup" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Backup"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Backup". Common alternatives include bottleneck, jam, jam-up, logjam, snarl, tailback, tie-up, cover, designated hitter and fill-in.

What is the opposite of "Backup"?

Antonyms of "Backup" include long-term and permanent.

How do you use "Backup" in a sentence?

Examples of "Backup" in a sentence: "there was the inevitable backup of travelers trying to pass through airport security"; "you didn't get the lead position, but you can be the backup to the chosen singer".

Is "Backup" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Backup" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Backup" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Backup" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Backup"?

"Backup" is pronounced /ˈbak-ˌəp/ and divided into syllables as back·up.