back out

verb

backed out; backing out; backs out

intransitive verb

: to withdraw especially from a commitment or contest

Synonyms of back out

• back down
• back off
• cop out
• recall

Examples of back out in a Sentence

she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, Williams is ready to grow it all back out again — despite her friends telling her how great her short cut looks short. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2026

And to be clear, there’s no way around the fact that putting him back out there comes with the risk of a more serious, long-term injury. — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

The star brightens again when the spots rotate back out of view. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

What’s uncommon is that Epic puts heat into the ground in summer and takes it back out months later. — Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout