duck out
phrasal verb
ducked out; ducking out; ducks out
informal
: to leave suddenly and usually without telling anyone that one is leaving
We ducked out after the first act of the play.
—often + on or ofThey ducked out on us without even saying goodbye.
I had to duck out of the meeting to take a phone call.
—often used figuratively and in a sneaky or improper wayHe wants to duck out of the contract.
She ducked out on paying the bill for the meal.
Examples of duck out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a brief fight, Mora Nunez fires a shot, hitting the officer in the face, and appears to duck out of view by a bush while the officer aims his own weapon.
—
Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Byron was seen hugging Cabot from behind when the kiss cam focused on the two, prompting Byron to duck out of frame and Cabot to turn her back to the camera.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
The woman turned her back from the camera, while the man ducked out of view behind a glass barrier.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 22 July 2025
Their reactions quickly went viral, with Byron immediately ducking out of frame and Cabot hastily covering her face before turning her back to escape the frame.
—EW.com, 19 July 2025
Her only friend is her childhood pal Betsy (Anna Camp, trying her best), and even that connection has grown distant thanks to Sam’s habit of suddenly and inexplicably going AWOL — as demonstrated in an opening scene where Sam ducks out of Betsy’s bachelorette party for an urgent mission.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
Cuomo ducks out, suffered verbal missteps The former governor, whose campaign has been marked by a lack of media access, slipped out of the theater as other candidates spoke to reporters to recap the debate.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
The last two batters might as well have ducked out the way on strike three, nervous that Winter’s 90-something mph fastball was headed straight for their shoulders, only to be greeted with the break of a slider good enough to get out professional hitters.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025
Rami even impersonated his brother to deliver an acting monologue to help Sami pass a college class — then ducked out before anyone could ask too many questions.
—Amy Jamieson, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
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Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025
Byron was seen hugging Cabot from behind when the kiss cam focused on the two, prompting Byron to duck out of frame and Cabot to turn her back to the camera.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
The woman turned her back from the camera, while the man ducked out of view behind a glass barrier.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 22 July 2025
Their reactions quickly went viral, with Byron immediately ducking out of frame and Cabot hastily covering her face before turning her back to escape the frame.
—EW.com, 19 July 2025
Her only friend is her childhood pal Betsy (Anna Camp, trying her best), and even that connection has grown distant thanks to Sam’s habit of suddenly and inexplicably going AWOL — as demonstrated in an opening scene where Sam ducks out of Betsy’s bachelorette party for an urgent mission.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
Cuomo ducks out, suffered verbal missteps The former governor, whose campaign has been marked by a lack of media access, slipped out of the theater as other candidates spoke to reporters to recap the debate.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
The last two batters might as well have ducked out the way on strike three, nervous that Winter’s 90-something mph fastball was headed straight for their shoulders, only to be greeted with the break of a slider good enough to get out professional hitters.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025
Rami even impersonated his brother to deliver an acting monologue to help Sami pass a college class — then ducked out before anyone could ask too many questions.
—Amy Jamieson, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Duck out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duck%20out. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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