back down

verb

backed down; backing down; backs down

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from a commitment or position

Synonyms of back down

• back out
• back off
• cop out
• recall

Examples of back down in a Sentence

if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date

Recent Examples on the Web

In its fifth and final season, The Bear scales back down to its fundamentals and delivers a satisfying farewell to one of the most electrifying television series of the past decade. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, briefly held onto the title of being the world’s first and only trillionaire before his net worth was deflated back down to a more modest nine-figure amount. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Senior Assistant Construction Manager John Myler said that the plan for the test run is to lift the bridge up, move it a foot, bring it back, and set it back down so that crews can verify that everything is working functionally. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Lower it back down with control. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

back down

verb

: to retreat from a stand one has taken or from a challenge one has accepted