# backlog

/ˈbæˌkɫɑɡ/ (US) · /bˈæklɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/backlog
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. unfinished work

noun · CEFR B2

a pile of work or tasks that you have not finished yet.

For teachers: an accumulation of tasks, orders, or data that has built up and is awaiting processing or completion.

- I need to stay late tonight to clear the backlog of emails from my holiday.
- The department struggled to address the significant backlog of visa applications that had accumulated during the three-month administrative strike.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'clear' or 'tackle'.

### 2. gaming/chat history

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a list of messages or text that you can look back at in a game or chat room.

For teachers: a stored record of previously displayed text or dialogue, typically accessible via a scroll-back feature in software.

- If you missed the instructions, you can check the game's backlog to read them again.
- The visual novel includes a backlog feature, allowing players to review previous dialogue choices before making a critical decision.

### 3. to accumulate

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to let work or items build up instead of finishing them.

For teachers: to accumulate or allow to build up as a reserve or unfinished pile.

- Orders began to backlog as soon as the main shipping port closed.
- The system was designed to backlog incoming requests during peak hours to prevent a total server collapse.

Usage: Used both transitively and intransitively.

## Examples

- I have a huge backlog of emails to answer.
- The hospital is working overtime to clear the backlog of elective surgeries that were postponed during the winter.
- The sudden surge in consumer demand left the manufacturing plant with a significant backlog, forcing the management to implement a temporary freeze on new orders until the existing queue was cleared.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.