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

to back up

73 3.2
Make a copy of computer files to prevent loss
  • phrasal verb
  • /bæk ʌp/
translation icon : hacer una copia de seguridad
  • Once completed and submitted, survey data were stored on the university server and backed up on three hard drives.
  • back up data
  • back up files
  • back up the system

I emailed Lacey, who knows Back up your hard drives.

Examples

  • Purchase a backup program such as Backup4all and set it to back up data at intervals.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The problems highlighted the importance of backing up files every day and saving them frequently.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Can you tell me how much total you need to back up two computers?

  • You might consider purchasing software that can be set to automatically back up your files at whatever interval you wish.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Furthermore, the system has to back up files and provides long-term preservation of those files.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Large firms have IT staffs that can make sure PCs are backed up by network servers.

    Academic text (2005)

  • It's important to back up your files regularly to avoid losing important data.

  • Before the update, I always make sure to back up my computer to protect my files.

  • She decided to back up her project files on an external hard drive before the presentation.

Synonyms

to save
vsto back up
  • Specialized
211 1.3

Record data on a computer to use later

creates a separate copy specifically to prevent data loss
to save the document
vsto back up
1 2.0

Keep a document on a computer so you do not lose your work

makes an extra copy of files to avoid losing them

Antonyms

to delete
287 2.0

To remove information like text or files so it cannot be seen

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 for files comes from the idea of keeping a copy at the back so you can pull it up if the first one is lost. So back up means 'to make a copy' to keep your data safe.