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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back out
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had alleged that Hamas had backed out on parts of the deal, which a senior Hamas leader dismissed.
—
Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
In a 2017 interview, Biden said that the witnesses backed out at the last minute.
—Paul M. Collins Jr., The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
Walsh responded by making a trade with the Rams for elusive running back Wendell Tayler and drafting Roger Craig, a multipurpose back out of Nebraska.
—Mark Purdy, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
The Cubs would also hope to tease a little more velocity back out of Pressly, who has historically had strong ground-ball numbers, which would play well on a team with multiple Gold Glove defenders.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back out 
Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
In a 2017 interview, Biden said that the witnesses backed out at the last minute.
—Paul M. Collins Jr., The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
Walsh responded by making a trade with the Rams for elusive running back Wendell Tayler and drafting Roger Craig, a multipurpose back out of Nebraska.
—Mark Purdy, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
The Cubs would also hope to tease a little more velocity back out of Pressly, who has historically had strong ground-ball numbers, which would play well on a team with multiple Gold Glove defenders.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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Cam Newton, who spent the majority of his 11-year NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, is not backing down from his recent criticism of his former teammates.—
Chantz Martin,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Thanks to the concentration of our forces in and around the Strip, and thanks to President Trump's clear and unequivocal statement, Hamas backed down and the release of the hostages continued.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Private companies, some of which had already begun the transition before Trump took office, remarkably began backing off their DEI policies, even if only symbolically with little internal change.—
Casey Harper | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
15 Feb. 2025
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In an effort to prevent a crash, sheriff’s pursuit cars backed off as the pickup approached the Payette River Canyon.—
Max Silverson,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Feb. 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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The company last year issued a profit warning after it was hit by sliding sales in China and forced to recall 1.5 million vehicles due to potentially faulty brake systems developed by Continental.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
10 Feb. 2025
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Neighbors recalled the girl as cheerful and her parents as loving.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near back out
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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