Back up

verb, slang

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so. idiomatic, intransitive

    "That beeping sound indicates that the truck is backing up."

  2. 2
    establish as valid or genuine wordnet
  3. 3
    To move a vehicle backwards. idiomatic, transitive

    "Back up the car a little, you're blocking the driveway."

  4. 4
    become or cause to become obstructed wordnet
  5. 5
    To undo one's actions. idiomatic, intransitive

    "I couldn't see how to finish the project, so I backed up and tried it another way."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    make a copy of (a computer file) especially for storage in another place as a security copy wordnet
  2. 7
    To reconsider one's thoughts. idiomatic, intransitive

    "This isn't working. Let's back up and think about it."

  3. 8
    move backwards from a certain position wordnet
  4. 9
    To copy (data) so that it can be restored if the main copy is lost. idiomatic, transitive

    "Back up your documents folder before applying the update."

  5. 10
    give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to wordnet
  6. 11
    To provide support or the promise of support to. idiomatic, transitive

    "You should be careful. This guy is backed up by the local gang."

  7. 12
    For the non-striker to take a few steps down the pitch, in preparation to taking a run, just as the bowler bowls the ball. idiomatic, intransitive
  8. 13
    For a fielder to position himself behind the wicket (relative to a team-mate who is throwing the ball at the wicket) so as to stop the ball, and prevent overthrows. idiomatic, intransitive
  9. 14
    To halt the flow or movement of something. idiomatic, intransitive

    "When I flushed the toilet, the plumbing backed up and burst."

  10. 15
    To fill up because of a backlog. idiomatic, informal, intransitive

    "WAITRESS: Hurry up with those drinks, Lucy. We're backing up. (Grabs the drinks LUCY has poured.) What are you doing? These are regular. They all ordered large."

  11. 16
    To run a printing press in reverse. obsolete

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