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 Advertisement The researchers couldn’t determine whether the dryers were actually harboring bacteria or simply sucking it up and then blowing a concentrated amount back out. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024 Is there any way to politely back out of an invitation one has already accepted? Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024 Minogue was originally set to perform at the festival in 2005 but had to back out due to a breast cancer diagnosis. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024 Still, the claim that the West forced Ukraine to back out of the talks with Russia is baseless. Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024 The wave of posts and memes seemingly coincided with Prince William backing out of a memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, due to personal matters. Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 JetBlue later declined to appeal the ruling, instead opting to pay a $69 million breakup fee plus hundreds of millions to its shareholders to back out of the deal. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024 According to Casper, only a serious health ailment constituted a legitimate excuse to back out. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024 In previous years, the royal family has typically hosted a festive lunch at Windsor Castle following the service, but this year, the celebrations have been scaled back out of respect and concern for Charles’s health. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near back out

Cite this Entry

“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20out. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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