back off

verb

backed off; backing off; backs off

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 For afternoon hunts, back off slightly farther and set up shop along a route that exits the buck’s bedding spot and leads to a staging area or destination food source. Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2024 Starbuck isn’t about to back off, particularly with a coin-toss election – and prospect of a Trump restoration – now less than 45 days away. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024 Elegant trogons make several noises, from the bombastic croak that tells other males to back off to a gentler coo that appears to be conversation with a mate. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024 The company remains committed to this strategy at a time when other automakers, including the company’s biggest U.S. rivals, Ford and General Motors, have backed off similar promises. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for back off 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of back off was in 1920

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 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

back off

verb

More from Merriam-Webster on back off

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