as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back out
Months later, energy giant Kinder Morgan Inc. backed out of a $3.3 billion natural gas pipeline proposed through Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
—
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Zoom out: Morrell proposed the travel moratorium last month after the mayor and her administration backed out of a $20 million funding deal with the Orleans Parish School Board.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
Kentucky caught a break when a ball that deflected into the backcourt was flung forward through a sea of Tigers arms to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr, who tapped it back out to Otega Oweh for a wide-open 3-pointer.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2025
Extend arms and legs back out to the starting position.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Zoom out: Morrell proposed the travel moratorium last month after the mayor and her administration backed out of a $20 million funding deal with the Orleans Parish School Board.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
Kentucky caught a break when a ball that deflected into the backcourt was flung forward through a sea of Tigers arms to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr, who tapped it back out to Otega Oweh for a wide-open 3-pointer.
—Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2025
Extend arms and legs back out to the starting position.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
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Swalwell draws parallels between his father’s principled stand against corruption as a police chief and his own refusal to back down, framing resistance as a moral imperative learned from his upbringing[1][3].—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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At the moment, neither appears willing to back down.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC News,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Creighton rebounded a UConn miss with about 7 seconds left and a 7-point lead, and the Huskies backed off, allowing the Bluejays to dribble out the clock.—
Ralph D. Russo,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
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There has never been reason to think, and there certainly is no reason to think now, that appeasing Putin is going to lead to him backing off from these grander schemes.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 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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Hilda had just moved there to start her dream job, recalls her father.—
Jonathan Vigliotti,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2025
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Her voice cracked, recalling the moment her optimism shattered.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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