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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back out
The board’s decision to rename the center was followed by an exodus of artists who backed out of events, including Philip Glass and Renee Fleming.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Sometimes a boat will have to get halfway into a lock, and then back out just to help push the ice through, Briggs said.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
An investor group led by businessman Ron Burkle was awarded an MLS expansion team in 2019, but backed out in 2021, citing pandemic-era construction cost hikes and a $50 million increase in the league entrance fee.
—JosÉ Luis Villegas, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The school allegedly backed out of the lease.
—Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Sometimes a boat will have to get halfway into a lock, and then back out just to help push the ice through, Briggs said.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
An investor group led by businessman Ron Burkle was awarded an MLS expansion team in 2019, but backed out in 2021, citing pandemic-era construction cost hikes and a $50 million increase in the league entrance fee.
—JosÉ Luis Villegas, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
The school allegedly backed out of the lease.
—Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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Tehran shows no signs of backing down.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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That capsule went on a looping trip around the moon that lasted over three weeks and covered over a million miles before splashing back down in the Pacific.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Ravens took a swing in the trade market, but backed off on an acquisition that would have brought star pass rusher Maxx Crosby for two first-round draft picks.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing.—
Alison Graham Larson,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 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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The ex-governor, who was recalled in 2003 and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, acknowledged his comments won’t please Democrats worried about the party’s large field splintering support, resulting in two Republicans advancing to the November runoff.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Carter recalled Bethany saying.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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