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
The climb-down on tariffs may open the way to a summit with the U.S., but experts say Beijing will not back down from its territorial claims.
—
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 15 May 2025
He’s known mostly for his defensive effort and isn’t the type to back down from a challenge.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
The salary aprons will bring the top teams back down in a season or so.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
He was sent back down to Triple-A after some early struggles.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 15 May 2025
He’s known mostly for his defensive effort and isn’t the type to back down from a challenge.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
The salary aprons will bring the top teams back down in a season or so.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025
He was sent back down to Triple-A after some early struggles.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Trainers wrapped Kornet’s arm up, sent him back out there, and watched his energy catalyze the rest of his team.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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American Promise, Journalism and Sandman are the only three Derby horses lining up for this year’s Preakness, after Sovereignty backed out citing the tight turnaround.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
12 May 2025
Verb
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That direct encouragement accelerated an equity market rally which began as the president showed further inclination to back off of his most aggressive trade war plans and brandished a new trade deal with the U.K., the first such agreement of his second term.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Trump quickly backed off the reciprocal plan amid a market rout and mounting criticism.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
8 May 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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Cain ripped a single into left field, a ball that, as then-general manager Dayton Moore recalled, hugged the line.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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Torres recalled how her slain sibling had been dating someone else before taking up with the new boyfriend — with Lisette’s life then falling to pieces over the course of a few spiraling months, according to her sister.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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