back off

verb

backed off; backing off; backs off

intransitive verb

: back down

Synonyms of back off

• back down
• back out
• cop out

Examples of back off in a Sentence

you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance

Recent Examples on the Web

The Los Angeles district attorney has backed off felony charges against a police officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist remarks after facing criticism the response was too harsh and could deter whistleblowers from coming forward. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Cunningham has not backed off her stance despite the criticism. — S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

The stock saw a record high close in June before backing off. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

By midmorning, as investors digested all of this data, bond traders backed off from betting that the Fed would hike rates this year. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

back off

verb

: back down