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
Relevance
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
Once the man was inside, Witkus slipped back out and radioed officers in the master control room, telling them to keep the doors locked, then radioed Dial and Conrad.
—
James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Slowly slide your heel back out, straightening your leg.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
In the late 1990s, SoftBank almost bought a 30% stake in Amazon for $100 million but backed out as Jeff Bezos believed his company was worth 16% more than Son’s valuation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
There’s a great anecdote when Paul visits Nashville in the summer of 1974 and tells guitarist Jerry Reed that Wings are going back out on the road.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Slowly slide your heel back out, straightening your leg.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
In the late 1990s, SoftBank almost bought a 30% stake in Amazon for $100 million but backed out as Jeff Bezos believed his company was worth 16% more than Son’s valuation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
There’s a great anecdote when Paul visits Nashville in the summer of 1974 and tells guitarist Jerry Reed that Wings are going back out on the road.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
-
If the plane heaves up, the spoilers can press it back down.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Huskies defenseman Kai Janviriya guided the puck back down the ice and was getting ready to possibly send his team home with a victory.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oil backing off from its session high helped equities recover, too.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
Christopher Waldo, an Asian American classicist at the University of Washington, recalled.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
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 out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
