as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back out
According to Redfin’s agents, buyers often back out of a pending purchase after inspections reveal issues with the property.
—
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The American model also calls for the storm to head back out to sea starting on Monday, while the European model has the storm loitering just offshore through at least Tuesday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Or might a loss at Carolina next Sunday immediately spring open that pen and let the wolves back out full-throated?
—Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Utah prep receiver Kai Meza backed out of his commitment to the Gophers football program on Sunday.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The American model also calls for the storm to head back out to sea starting on Monday, while the European model has the storm loitering just offshore through at least Tuesday.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Or might a loss at Carolina next Sunday immediately spring open that pen and let the wolves back out full-throated?
—Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Utah prep receiver Kai Meza backed out of his commitment to the Gophers football program on Sunday.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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China has been one of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic clout.—
NPR,
NPR,
12 Oct. 2025
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China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Despite increasingly menacing warnings to back off and stop prying into the lives of rich power players thorny about their privacy, Lo remains determined to get to the truth.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
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The five-time major winner was heckled relentlessly, forced to back off putts due to crowd noise, and even went after a spectator who threw a beer at his wife, Erica, but was pulled back by officials.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
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But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Allen recalls meeting Keaton for the first time while auditioning actresses at the old Morosco Theatre for his play Play It Again, alongside the producer David Merrick.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
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On a late-summer day, the 57-year-old Puerto Rican recalls his time at Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan with fondness.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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