English verb: back up | |||
1. | back up (social) give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to | ||
Samples | She supported him during the illness. Her children always backed her up. | ||
Examples | Sam cannot back up Sue | ||
Synonyms | support | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | advance, aid, assist, back, boost, buy at, encourage, endorse, frequent, further, help, indorse, patronise, patronize, promote, second, shop, shop at, sponsor, sponsor, undergird | ||
2. | back up (motion) move backwards from a certain position | ||
Samples | The bully had to back down. | ||
Synonyms | back down, back off | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, retreat, withdraw | ||
3. | back up (change) establish as valid or genuine | ||
Samples | Can you back up your claims?. | ||
Synonyms | back | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, support, sustain | ||
4. | back up (creation) make a copy of (a computer file) especially for storage in another place as a security copy | ||
Samples | You'd better back up these files!. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | copy, re-create | ||
Domain category | computer, computing device, computing machine, data processor, electronic computer, information processing system | ||
5. | back up (contact) become or cause to become obstructed | ||
Samples | The leaves clog our drains in the Fall. The water pipe is backed up. | ||
Synonyms | choke, choke off, clog, clog up, congest, foul | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | block, close up, impede, jam, obstruct, obturate, occlude | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | block, choke up, crap up, gum up, lug, silt, silt up, stuff | ||
Antonyms | unclog | ||