as in backed off
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 backed out
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
At the Round Table, Lipinski backed out of voting for Rausch, and players' attitudes then shifted to voting off Anderson.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Feb. 2026
The night began with boisterous boos during the pregame introduction of a player who backed out on a deal to return to the Bears for his sophomore season.
—Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
In Oklahoma City, after several protests and a packed city council meeting, a company that had planned to sell its warehouse to ICE backed out of the deal – a move cheered by Republican Mayor David Holt.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Some buyers have also backed out of sales.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Beck also backed out of the draft to transfer to the Hurricanes.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Will Arnett will fill David Harbour's shoes after the Stranger Things star backed out of director Tony Gilroy's upcoming drama, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
At the Round Table, Lipinski backed out of voting for Rausch, and players' attitudes then shifted to voting off Anderson.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Feb. 2026
The night began with boisterous boos during the pregame introduction of a player who backed out on a deal to return to the Bears for his sophomore season.
—Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
In Oklahoma City, after several protests and a packed city council meeting, a company that had planned to sell its warehouse to ICE backed out of the deal – a move cheered by Republican Mayor David Holt.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Some buyers have also backed out of sales.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Beck also backed out of the draft to transfer to the Hurricanes.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Will Arnett will fill David Harbour's shoes after the Stranger Things star backed out of director Tony Gilroy's upcoming drama, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed out
Verb
-
For years, credit card issuers and other businesses that have backed off using magnetic strips in favor of more secure EMV chips and contactless RFID technology, commonly known as tap to pay.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In the end, the council came to a resolution on a police contract and backed off plans to change any positions.—
Jennifer Borrasso,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Apple never backed down and the FBI found a way to unlock the phone anyway, using bugs that already existed in Apple’s code, effectively providing the back door that law enforcement sought in the first place.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20out. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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