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Examples of back off in a Sentence
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
Recent Examples on the Web
The auto industry pushed the administration to back off the tax credit’s more restrictive rules
There are also income limits for buyers and strict rules for the vehicles and batteries.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 3 May 2024
Toro’s blast hit the top of the fence before rebounding off a wall and back off the field.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
The report also suggested that Fresno State planned to fire Hutson last year but backed off after the coach’s attorney sent a letter to the university president with allegations of racial discrimination.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Both Kyiv and Moscow have been remarkably consistent in reiterating their key demands, and neither has backed off promises of absolute victory.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
The Royals had originally wanted to announce their choice of a stadium site by late September, then backed off that deadline.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The path of least resistance is to back off rather than to reach out.
—Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Feb. 2024
And, hitting another item on the farmer wish list, French officials have called for the E.U. to back off trade negotiations with the South American Mercosur trade bloc.
—Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
In the years that followed, Omar backed off from the idea, saying his family had lost a lot of money, according to the letter.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1920, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to back off
Dictionary Entries Near back off
Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20off. Accessed 13 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
back off
verbMore from Merriam-Webster on back off
Britannica English: Translation of back off for Arabic Speakers
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