back out

verb

Definition of back outnext
as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back out Beyond that, a truce means whatever the negotiators will tolerate as long as none backs out of talks. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Last year’s class reimagined how successful Notre Dame could be at acquiring top defensive backs out of high school, but this one might be Freeman’s favorite, based on its composition. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Reardon added that some dock space rentals have been canceled, and Airbnb renters have backed out. — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Poppyseed grapefruit cake cooled and removed from its pan, then popped back in for travel—and popped back out for slicing at the event? — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
  1. back down
  2. back off
  3. cop out
  4. recall
Verb
  • After shooting up to an all-time high of over $225, shares of the rocket company have swung wildly back down to Earth, betraying plenty of uncertainty over the company’s dizzying, north-of-$2-trillion market cap.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 July 2026
  • The prisoner is placed in restraints and led back down the wing before being transported to Florida State Prison and placed on death watch.
    — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
Definition of back down
Verb
  • Uzbekistan went close to an equaliser before Jaminton Campaz scored in stoppage time, immediately followed by a shot at the other end that thundered back off the crossbar.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • When the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses on the lawn of other beach neighbors, the only Jewish family in town, my dad tracked down the local Klan leader and told him to back off, or else.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of back off
Verb
  • Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • The case highlighted limits in Colorado's police oversight despite significant recent reforms aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 22 May 2026
Definition of cop out
Verb
  • Plans for fireworks were still moving forward in other cities including Chicago and New York, where tall ships passed the Statue of Liberty earlier in the day, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976.
    — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Pulisic recalled arriving at Pochettino’s temporary office for a meeting and hearing a country song.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of recall

Browse Nearby Words

back off
back out
backpack
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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