as in to back out
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back down
All Anunoby could do was smile and jog back down the court.
—
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
But rather than back down, Sánchez and his government have doubled down.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 Mar. 2026
The sense among many activists is that the intense community organizing against the surge played a decisive role in the administration backing down.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
When attempting an outing before water levels come back up again, Cannon Spring and Tobacco Patch Spring can be accessed by putting in at Paynes Landing (Cypress Bayou Boat Ramp) in Fort McCoy and paddling upstream, then floating back down.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back down
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
But rather than back down, Sánchez and his government have doubled down.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 Mar. 2026
The sense among many activists is that the intense community organizing against the surge played a decisive role in the administration backing down.
—Steve Karnowski, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
When attempting an outing before water levels come back up again, Cannon Spring and Tobacco Patch Spring can be accessed by putting in at Paynes Landing (Cypress Bayou Boat Ramp) in Fort McCoy and paddling upstream, then floating back down.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Blount said afterward that her team was unselfish with the guards feeding the post and the bigs kicking the ball back out to give guards shots.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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But Viacom backed out of the deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Oil backing off from its session high helped equities recover, too.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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Specifically, a series of hydrogen leaks and then an unexpected problem getting helium to flow to the upper portion of the launch vehicle led to a series of delays and ultimately a decision to roll the rocket back off its launchpad.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Christopher Waldo, an Asian American classicist at the University of Washington, recalled.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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During the negotiations for the stadium, many West End residents recalled the disappointment of Hope VI.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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