BACK UP

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Establish as valid or genuine

Example:

Can you back up your claims?

Synonyms:

back; back up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "back up" is one way to...):

affirm; confirm; corroborate; substantiate; support; sustain (establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become or cause to become obstructed

Example:

The water pipe is backed up

Synonyms:

back up; choke; choke off; clog; clog up; congest; foul

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "back up" is one way to...):

block; close up; impede; jam; obstruct; obturate; occlude (block passage through)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back up"):

gum up (stick together as if with gum)

crap up (become obstructed or chocked up)

block; choke up; lug; stuff (obstruct)

silt; silt up (become chocked with silt)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

backup (an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a copy of (a computer file) especially for storage in another place as a security copy

Example:

You'd better back up these files!

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "back up" is one way to...):

copy; re-create (make a replica of)

Domain category:

computer; computing device; computing machine; data processor; electronic computer; information processing system (a machine for performing calculations automatically)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

backup ((computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Move backwards from a certain position

Example:

The bully had to back down

Synonyms:

back down; back off; back up

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "back up" is one way to...):

draw back; move back; pull away; pull back; recede; retire; retreat; withdraw (pull back or move away or backward)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to

Example:

Her children always backed her up

Synonyms:

back up; support

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back up"):

sponsor (assume responsibility for or leadership of)

buy at; frequent; patronise; patronize; shop; shop at; sponsor (do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of)

aid; assist; help (give help or assistance; be of service)

advance; boost; encourage; further; promote (contribute to the progress or growth of)

root (cheer for)

undergird (lend moral support to)

back; endorse; indorse; second (give support or one's approval to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot back up Sue

Derivation:

backup (the act of providing approval and support)

Credits