back out

verb

backed out; backing out; backs out

intransitive verb

: to withdraw especially from a commitment or contest

Examples of back out in a Sentence

she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
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.
The vacuum is equipped with a four-stage filtration system that locks in dust, dirt, and more debris to prevent them from spewing back out of the exhaust. Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025 Quintana said some organizations and companies backed out of sponsorships or being part of the march this year. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025 Friday’s widespread storms that served up floods and gridlock to afternoon commuters from the Keys to Coral Gables should begin to taper off as people head back out for a night on the town. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 By the time Sega backed out of the hardware race post-Dreamcast, Shinobi mostly limped on with a couple of 3D entries for PlayStation and Nintendo platforms before fading into obscurity. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back out

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back out was in 1801

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Cite this Entry

“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20out. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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