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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Metro board chair and Supervisor Janice Hahn said that funding the Transit Connector would not endanger other South Bay projects, and that backing off could send a bad message to Washington down the line. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 Nielsen previously hoped to implement first-party data in fall of last year, but backed off after the networks complained. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024 At the same time, private Chinese businesses have reacted to the slowdown in China’s economy and disappointments in Beijing’s responses by backing off on real capital investments in modernization and expansion. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for back off 

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 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

back off

verb

More from Merriam-Webster on back off

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