BACK UP – Phrasal Verb
What is the Meaning of BACK UP?
Definition 1:
If something backs up, it means the regular flow is slowed or stopped.
Examples:
- Don’t pour grease down your kitchen drain or the water will back up.
- Every day the traffic on the freeway starts to back up at 4:00 p.m.
back up s.o./s.t.
back s.o./s.t. up
Definition 2:
to drive, or move, in reverse
Note: For this definition, it is not always necessary to include the object (e.g., the car).
Examples:
- Could you please back your car up a little?
- Could you back up a little? (This means back yourself up.)
Definition 3:
to support
Examples:
- They had no scientific evidence to back up their claims.
- My boss doesn’t believe me. I am glad that Cris will back me up.
Definition 4:
to make a second copy of computer information and store it in a separate place, so the information is safe if there are problems with your computer
Examples:
- We back up all our data every Friday.
- My computer got a virus and everything on my hard drive was destroyed. Fortunately, I had been regularly backing everything up.
present: | BACK UP | |
present participle: | BACKING UP | |
past: | BACKED UP | |
past participle: | BACKED UP |
Phrasal Verb List