back off

verb

backed off; backing off; backs off

intransitive verb

: back down

Synonyms of back off

• back down
• back out
• cop out

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

Traoré’s explosive first step gives defenders a reason to back off. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

Four-star offensive lineman Jatori Williams backed off his commitment, announcing his decision on social media. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Costello almost released his earliest recordings 35 years ago, then backed off. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026

Down 3-1 in the eighth, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto went back-to-back off an obscure reliever named Clayton Kershaw … and then that Nationals team, too, went on to win the World Series. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

back off

verb

: back down