Back up synonym,synonyms of back up
Support
- Similarities: Both "back up" and "support" can mean to give assistance or help to someone or something. For example, you can back up a friend in an argument or support them. In a technical context, like backing up/supporting a claim with evidence, they are used to strengthen or validate something.
- Differences: "Support" is a more general term and can imply a broader range of assistance, including emotional, financial, or physical help. "Back up" often has a connotation of providing evidence, reinforcement, or backup in case of a problem or challenge. For example, you support a charity by donating money, but you back up your computer data to protect it.
Reinforce
- Similarities: When used in the sense of strengthening or giving additional support, "back up" and "reinforce" are quite similar. For instance, you can back up/reinforce an argument by presenting more facts. In a physical sense, you might back up/reinforce a structure to make it more stable.
- Differences: "Reinforce" often implies a more active and deliberate act of making something stronger. It's commonly used in contexts like reinforcing a wall with additional materials or reinforcing a behavior through positive feedback. "Back up" can be more about providing a secondary or supplementary support, like having a backup plan or backing up a statement with examples.
Bolster
- Similarities: "Bolster" and "back up" both mean to support or strengthen. You can bolster/back up someone's confidence or bolster/back up a theory with research. They are used to enhance or prop up something that might be weak or in need of support.
- Differences: "Bolster" has a sense of adding something to make something else more substantial or secure. It's often used in the context of bolstering resources, bolstering defenses, etc. It gives the impression of adding a boost or reinforcement. "Back up" is more about being there as a support or reserve, like backing up a file in case the original is lost.
Verify
- Similarities: In some contexts, "back up" and "verify" can be related. When you back up a claim or statement, you are often trying to verify its truth or accuracy. For example, you back up/verify a story by checking the facts.
- Differences: "Verify" is more focused on the act of checking or confirming the truth, accuracy, or authenticity of something. It's about establishing the validity of a claim or data. "Back up" can have a broader meaning that includes providing support in other ways, like backing up a person in a conflict, which may not necessarily involve verifying something.
Duplicate
- Similarities: In the context of data or information, "back up" and "duplicate" both involve creating a copy. When you back up data, you are essentially duplicating it to have a spare in case of loss or damage.
- Differences: "Duplicate" is more about the act of making an exact copy. "Back up" implies that the copy is made for the purpose of having a reserve or safeguard. For example, you might duplicate a file to work on a copy while keeping the original intact, but you back up a file to protect it from being lost or corrupted.