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

If the engineering physics were perfect—and engineering physics are never perfect—a lunar crew could use just one spacecraft to get to the moon, land, blast back off, and return home. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 Oct. 2026

The first time, her 6-year-old child was close to harming our infant daughter, and my husband asked him to back off — not unkindly, and only after giving the neighbor a chance to intercede first. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

The idea isn’t to wall the kitchen back off but to declutter it, giving everyday clutter a place to disappear so the room looks calmer and more polished. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Traoré’s explosive first step gives defenders a reason to back off. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 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