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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Recent Examples of back out
Do reversed course days later, backing out of the job amid criticism.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Some of them don't really reach back out and that's cool, too.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Irlbeck told attendees that while Corpus Christi plans proposed to use an underwater sprinkler system to spread out salty discharge right in the bay, EPCOR intended to follow the country’s only two active seawater desalination plants and dilute the salty brine before pushing it back out.
—Rebekah F. Ward, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
So if officials back out of the project, Rosenburgh said the NCDOT board will question other projects for the Charlotte area.
—Desiree Mathurin
march 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Some of them don't really reach back out and that's cool, too.
—Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Irlbeck told attendees that while Corpus Christi plans proposed to use an underwater sprinkler system to spread out salty discharge right in the bay, EPCOR intended to follow the country’s only two active seawater desalination plants and dilute the salty brine before pushing it back out.
—Rebekah F. Ward, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
So if officials back out of the project, Rosenburgh said the NCDOT board will question other projects for the Charlotte area.
—Desiree Mathurin
march 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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Sakchai Vongsasiripat/Getty Images Mortgage rates have been ticking upward since the start of April, and the economic backdrop heading into this new week isn't doing much to push them back down, either.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Orlando refused to back down, continuing to push for a late winner.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hialeah eventually backed off of the effort.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
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Trump has issued ultimatums to Iran before, only to find ways to back off.—
Compiled byDemocrat-Gazette stafffrom wire reports,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 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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Stout recalled a gopher tortoise his family called Herman that lived nearby for a few years during Stout’s childhood.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
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The late royal's former personal chef Darren McGrady recalled cooking dishes like spaghetti bolognese and Sol Florentine.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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