back up vs retreat

retreat vs back up

back up is not a noun while retreat is a noun.

back up and retreat both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
back up	No	No	Yes	No
retreat	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, retreat is a hypernym of back up; that is, retreat is a word with a broader meaning than back up:

back up: move backwards from a certain position
retreat: pull back or move away or backward

Other hypernyms of back up include draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw.

back up (noun)	retreat (noun)
	(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
	withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
	the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
	an area where you can be alone
	(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
	(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
	a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet

back up (verb)	retreat (verb)
establish as valid or genuine	make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
become or cause to become obstructed	pull back or move away or backward
make a copy of (a computer file) especially for storage in another place as a security copy	move back
move backwards from a certain position	move away, as for privacy
give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to

Difference between back up and retreat

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