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 It’s sparked debate about the 4-H program, whether a child should be allowed to back out of it, and about officials’ decision to use law enforcement resources to seize the goat. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 All three had arrived at the final tee a stroke needing a birdie to make a playoff, but while reigning Open champion Harman and world No. 6 Schauffele got within a few feet of forcing Scheffler back out, Clark came within millimeters. Jack Bantock, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Dana Ellsworth, Ruegg & Ellsworth president and CEO, said the company was forced to sue for damages after the city’s lack of support for housing caused Blake and Griggs Properties to back out of buying the land, costing Ruegg & Ellsworth more than $18 million. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 At the Democratic Convention in 2016, Streep broke the dress back out to deliver her speech to mark the nomination of Hillary Clinton, the first woman ever to top a major party’s ticket. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 And as night fell, Russel and McGrew made their way back out of the woods, satisfied with their moment in the sun. Michael Levitt, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Lopez reveals that the In the Heights star Anthony Ramos backed out of playing one of her character’s partners due to his friendship with her ex-husband Marc Anthony. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 That typically leads to higher numbers of migrants released into the United States, rather than detained and potentially sent back out of the country. Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 She was supposed to tour with Thundercat, for instance, but had to back out because her vocal cords hadn’t healed as quickly as expected. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 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 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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