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

But their erotic encounter is short-lived, as Joe tumbles and blows his back out while sheepishly dancing to Sade. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026

The Guerreros had gone to the fair’s opening ceremony to hear the President, whose rally-style speech substituted for the slew of musical artists who had backed out after learning of the event’s partisan origins. — Andrew Trunsky, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

In one rare path, where a lock operation hits a dead end and has to back out, the cleanup runs at the wrong moment and wipes the wrong task’s record. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

The actor was a replacement after Madonna backed out, leaving the proto-rave tune one of the era’s most unlikely collaborations. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 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