back out

verb

backed out; backing out; backs out

intransitive verb

: to withdraw especially from a commitment or contest

Synonyms of back out

• back down
• back off
• cop out
• recall

Examples of back out in a Sentence

she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning

Recent Examples on the Web

In at least 11 communities – including Oklahoma City and Kansas City – private developers backed out of sales following local protests. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 June 2026

No wonder Yard Act realized music is the lifeline that just might pull us back out of the muck. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

The high mode is designed for stronger extraction when pulling dirty water back out of fabric, while the lower mode gives users more runtime for lighter messes. — New Atlas, 24 June 2026

Griffin’s ninth strikeout of the night punctuated his seven innings, which then became a career-high 7 1/3 when Nationals manager Blake Butera sent him back out to the mound in the eighth at 99 pitches. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout