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
Among those who took an immediate liking to the boy was DeShaun Foster, the new running back out of UCLA.
—
Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Again, Molly backs out of the situation, scooting out of the elevator and apologizing profusely.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Related Articles Two Gophers recruits back out of men’s basketball program
Another Gophers men’s basketball player enters NCAA transfer portal
Due to the revenue sharing demands, Coyle said in March that the U has set aside a plan to explore remodeling options for Williams Arena.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2025
Dave didn’t want to go back out.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Again, Molly backs out of the situation, scooting out of the elevator and apologizing profusely.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Related Articles Two Gophers recruits back out of men’s basketball program
Another Gophers men’s basketball player enters NCAA transfer portal
Due to the revenue sharing demands, Coyle said in March that the U has set aside a plan to explore remodeling options for Williams Arena.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2025
Dave didn’t want to go back out.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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Neither side seems ready to back down, and Trump's TikTok deal—which must be approved by the Chinese government—risks further delays the longer negotiations and retaliations drag on.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2025
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Despite past condemnation and public concern, CHI has not backed down from its current legal position.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Even if investors are slightly more confident this week, after Trump backed off most of his harshest tariff rates, the changes in people’s life-style habits serve as their own kind of affective barometer.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2025
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The new restrictions follow an NPR report that Trump had backed off from pursuing the H20 controls, in exchange for Nvidia investing in data centers.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
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The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Friend recalls Read behavior, finding O'Keefe's body O'Keefe's friend, Kerry Roberts, recounted Read's behavior on the morning his body was found.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Since victims often do not recall their PIN immediately, the attackers guide them through their mobile banking application to retrieve this sensitive information.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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