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

German automakers are petitioning Berlin and the European Union to back off electric vehicle targets. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026

Territorial Dominance When smaller birds back off from a confrontation and cede their spot at the feeder, blue jays look even more hostile. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026

Florida appears to have backed off its plans to spend nearly $200 million in federal funds meant for electric car chargers on flying cars instead, according to documents obtained by the Miami Herald. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

If the engineering physics were perfect—and engineering physics are never perfect—a lunar crew could use just one spacecraft to get to the moon, land, blast back off, and return home. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 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