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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of back out
As Lee tries to tuck the pup's clothing neatly into a bag, Albie furiously pulls each item back out with his teeth.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The vacuum is equipped with a four-stage filtration system that locks in dust, dirt, and more debris to prevent them from spewing back out of the exhaust.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Quintana said some organizations and companies backed out of sponsorships or being part of the march this year.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
By the time Sega backed out of the hardware race post-Dreamcast, Shinobi mostly limped on with a couple of 3D entries for PlayStation and Nintendo platforms before fading into obscurity.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
The vacuum is equipped with a four-stage filtration system that locks in dust, dirt, and more debris to prevent them from spewing back out of the exhaust.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Quintana said some organizations and companies backed out of sponsorships or being part of the march this year.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
By the time Sega backed out of the hardware race post-Dreamcast, Shinobi mostly limped on with a couple of 3D entries for PlayStation and Nintendo platforms before fading into obscurity.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Samsung isn't backing down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Still, manager Aaron Boone isn't backing down.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump threatened earlier this year to fire Powell, but eventually backed off after his advisers warned him that doing so could spark extreme volatility in financial markets, CNN previously reported.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Continue reading … STEPPING IN – GOP senator warns White House to back off after Ukrainian refugee murder.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
-
But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Thousands of multivitamin bottles sold on Amazon and other websites have been recalled over a risk of serious injury or death by poisoning.—
Joel Thayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
After a goalless draw with Sunderland on Saturday, the Crystal Palace manager recalled a conversation with chairman Steve Parish, who had told him that over the years, impatience with new signings has increased.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share