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Examples of back off in a Sentence
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
Recent Examples on the Web
But county budget records show hundreds of thousands of those dollars went unspent, and the county has since backed off such intensive enforcement.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
The Europe plans were already in motion, though, and Mr. Friedman has not backed off them.
—David Segal, New York Times, 8 June 2024
The county Board of Supervisors signed off earlier this year on placing 150 small cabins in Spring Valley, but board Chair Nora Vargas later backed off after some residents objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2024
Guests have their own private staircase entrance in the back off the street, as well as access to a tennis court.
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2024
James, who can opt out of his contract with the Lakers this summer, has since backed off that statement in favor of allowing his son to follow his own path.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
During the first quarter, Target reported a 3.7% sales decline as customers backed off from purchasing groceries and discretionary goods, such as home decor and apparel.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 22 May 2024
Instead of backing off, Grimes answered every charge in detail, but there was more to it.
—K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 20 May 2024
The Senate on Wednesday backed off the proposal, which would have overhauled the state’s initiative petition process.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1920, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to back off
Dictionary Entries Near back off
Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20off. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
back off
verbMore from Merriam-Webster on back off
Britannica English: Translation of back off for Arabic Speakers
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