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

By midmorning, as investors digested all of this data, bond traders backed off from betting that the Fed would hike rates this year. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

No one will ever convince these moms to back off, and the repercussions of an elopement would be devastating. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

County and state officials have backed off immediate intervention after finding LAUSD technically compliant with a budget deadline. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

If the city backs off the video gambling rollout, Bally’s will once again ramp up construction at an accelerated pace on the full entertainment complex, sources said. — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 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