as in to back out
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back down
That number rose to 23% in September 2023, but dipped back down to 18% this past fall.
—
Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2025
The man slides back down on the outside of the fence as officers arrive, put him on the ground, cuff him and take him into custody.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
As one economist put it, tariffs are like a game of chicken, where each side waits to see who will back down first.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 6 Mar. 2025
But House conservatives, who demanded as much as $2 trillion in spending cuts in the House budget, are not going to back down without a fight.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2025
The man slides back down on the outside of the fence as officers arrive, put him on the ground, cuff him and take him into custody.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
As one economist put it, tariffs are like a game of chicken, where each side waits to see who will back down first.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 6 Mar. 2025
But House conservatives, who demanded as much as $2 trillion in spending cuts in the House budget, are not going to back down without a fight.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Extend arms and legs back out to the starting position.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
14 Mar. 2025
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Feel the mossy, sometimes humid air, and the sea breeze swept from the Beaufort bay. Shop and stroll After a slow breakfast at the inn, head back out for some sightseeing on foot.—
Kayleigh Ruller,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Powell backs off, humbled, and watches as Matt leaves the men's room.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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On Tuesday, Canada backed off on a 25% surcharge the province of Ontario levied on eletricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York after Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA TODAY,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
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The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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These goals do not include muddying the waters by recalling reinforcements and putting them in difficult ice.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
18 Mar. 2025
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Tim recalls a project in Tennessee where a student housing development had to comply with both Knoxville’s local building code and the state fire marshal’s additional jurisdictional requirements.—
Tyler Shepherd,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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