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
Roberts sent Yamamoto back out for the eighth despite his pitch count having reached 94.
—
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Mohamed Diawara shot himself into the rotation — and right back out of it.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
However, in 2024, Collins Aerospace backed out citing difficulties with the program.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2026
One buyer backed out after commissioning their own environmental report.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Mohamed Diawara shot himself into the rotation — and right back out of it.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
However, in 2024, Collins Aerospace backed out citing difficulties with the program.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2026
One buyer backed out after commissioning their own environmental report.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
-
This mission, which launched on April 1 and splashed back down to Earth on April 10, sent a crew of four astronauts on a journey around the moon and back.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
He stayed enrolled at his high school in Texas, attending remotely—several years before that became the pandemic norm—and flying back down to the Lone Star State for a couple months after the hockey season ended to finish his classes in person.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of their goals from throw-ins, with oppositions backing off in anticipation and possibly fear of one of Pinnock’s long throws, have also come from quick restarts and delivering quality crosses into the box.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Instead of backing off of their support for the proposal, its Republican supporters are digging in — a sign of how intractable the fight over immigration policy is, even among Trump-supporting Republicans.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
-
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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During a January episode of Dinner’s On Me, the pair recalled the hysterical moment that the show’s casting director, Jeff Greenberg, walked directly into a glass wall near the show’s craft service area.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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But titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima, where everyone from the tender drivers to food and beverage leads will pause to actually get to know you, and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) throughout your stay to make the entire experience feel organic and warm.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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