Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backfill

/ˈbækfɪl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.17 in modern English

Syllables: back-fill
IPA: /ˈbækfɪl/

19

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.

verb

To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and/or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.

verb

To provide reserve support.

American usage

verb

To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.

American usage

verb

To enter an online game that's already in progress, replacing a player who left early.

noun

The material that has been used to refill an excavation.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Reserve support personnel.

American usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

That which backfills; a replacement.

American usage; Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Clay excavated for the new river channel has been used to backfill the old watercourse, while embankment vegetation was also moved from the old channel to the new in order to preserve a habitat for the rare Four Spotted Moths that live there."
"We backfilled the cistern with pea gravel to discourage its use as a refuse container."
"The company backfilled Joe's position after he was terminated."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der.? Proto-Germanic *baką Proto-West Germanic *bak Old English bæc Middle English bak English back English fill English backfill From back + fill.

Usage

Inflected Forms

backfills (present, singular) backfilling (participle, present) backfilled (participle, past) backfilled (past) back-fill (alternative) backfills (plural)

Phrases

backfill bias

Questions

How do you pronounce backfill?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbækfɪl/.
What does backfill mean?: To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.
Where does backfill come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der.? Proto-Germanic *baką Proto-West Germanic *bak Old English bæc Middle English bak English back English fill English backfill From back + fill.

How to pronounce backfill

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