back down

verb

backed down; backing down; backs down
Synonyms of back downnext

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from a commitment or position

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For now, the company is limited to just 15 minutes of operation in space before the chips have to be shut off to cool back down. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026 Sheeran himself has faced significant backlash over the move, with critics blasting him for backing down, not supporting Macklemore and seeking to avoid taking sides on the matter. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 Output is rated past 4,500 CFM across six speeds, with reverse operation for pushing warm air back down in winter — real airflow, not a token breeze. — New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026 Better still, it’s generously sized to fit up to three bottles, which should save you a few trips back down to the cellar. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back down

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back down was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20down. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

back down

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