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Glite Dictionary
🤝 To support 🚗 To move backward 💾 To copy data 🚱 To block
to back up

to back up

354 3.0
Help someone or show evidence for an idea
  • phrasal verb
  • /bæk ʌp/
translation icon : respaldar
  • The regular teacher is right there to back you up, and the children will love you.
  • back up a claim
  • back up with evidence
  • back up the findings

And then you, you back up your claims with the facts.

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Examples

  • And we have evidence to back it up, if you remember.

  • Do we have statistics to back up my claim?

  • You might not have any research to back you up on your views.

  • Will you back me up here?

    Cellular (2004)

  • And then you, you back up your claims with the facts.

    The Rich Dad Channel

  • When the person backs you up, you feel much better inside.

  • One would expect such a consensus to be backed up by an impressive array of evidence.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Opponents had statistical information to back up this narrative of the good mother.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Americo Castro cited many examples to back up his vision of an "oriental" Spain.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Can you provide some data to back up your argument in the debate?

Synonyms

to support
vsto back up
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

includes providing evidence as well as encouragement or practical help
to back
vsto back up
932 1.0

To support someone or something

focuses more on broad support that can include evidence and encouragement
to help someone out
vsto back up
  • Informal
182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

tends to mean short term, practical aid rather than broader backing or evidence
to offer support
vsto back up
28 2.7

To give help to someone during a difficult time

is wider covering ongoing aid and evidence not just temporary help
to have (someone's) back
vsto back up
  • Informal
4.1

Support and protect someone in hard times

is wider and can include evidence or general encouragement, not only protection

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

to neglect
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Supportive

to champion
64 4.2
to support
∞ 1.0
to back up
354 3.0
to endorse
183 4.2

Surface Forms

back up infinitive
backed up past
backed up past participle
backing up present participle
backs up third person singular

Morphology

back + up

The parts give partial clues: 'back' evokes movement toward the rear and 'up' often conveys accumulation or completion (compare 'pile up' or 'clog up'), so a learner might infer a sense of things building up. However, the specific sense 'become blocked/obstructed' for systems or pipes is a somewhat specialized extension and not fully predictable from the literal meanings, so prior exposure helps.

Etymology

Back up comes from the image of someone standing at your back and holding you up so you do not fall, giving help when you need it. That's why back up means 'to support' or give evidence.