chicken out

verb

chickened out; chickening out; chickens out
Synonyms of chicken outnext
informal
: to decide not to do something because one is afraid
He was going to ask her on a date, but he chickened out at the last minute.

Examples of chicken out in a Sentence

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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.
Remove pan from oven and pour in 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth and 1½ cups dry white wine, scraping up any brown bits stuck to pan (carefully lift rack with chicken out if needed; return when done). — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026 The moves caused critics to claim Trump always chickens out, or TACO, if financial markets show enough pain. — Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026 Raccoons can reach through and pull chickens out through holes. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026 If markets don't sell off violently, does Trump have any reason to chicken out? — Phil Serafino, Bloomberg, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chicken out

Rhymes for chicken out

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Browse Nearby Words

chicken of the woods
chicken out
chicken pepper
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Cite this Entry

“Chicken out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicken%20out. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chicken out

Nglish: Translation of chicken out for Spanish Speakers

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