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
No one backed down to the very end when Siraj’s forward defense rolled onto the stumps.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
That causes the density drop, slowing fusion back down again.
—ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Over the seven days following the race, calorie-burning drifted back down to normal levels, with seven-day averages of 3,245 calories per day for one runner and 2,721 for the other.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 16 July 2025
Twice per day, on the way up and back down, Kosmos 2589 briefly passes near a large number of US government and commercial satellites in more conventional geosynchronous orbits but then quickly departs the vicinity.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
That causes the density drop, slowing fusion back down again.
—ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Over the seven days following the race, calorie-burning drifted back down to normal levels, with seven-day averages of 3,245 calories per day for one runner and 2,721 for the other.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 16 July 2025
Twice per day, on the way up and back down, Kosmos 2589 briefly passes near a large number of US government and commercial satellites in more conventional geosynchronous orbits but then quickly departs the vicinity.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Add in numbness, tingling or pounding headaches, and suddenly checking your phone, sleeping comfortably or backing out of a parking spot becomes a real challenge.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
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Despite Lionel Messi backing out of the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, the league’s best defeated the Liga MX All-Stars 3-1 on Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium, home of Major League Soccer’s Austin FC.—
Mark J. Burns,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Johnson, who campaigned against raising property taxes and instead pitched other progressive revenues, backed off of Lightfoot’s policy in his first budget, only to renege last year amid a nearly $1 billion deficit.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
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Several of the members rejoiced at the news that Polis backed off the proposal.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
Verb
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But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
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The relative lack of substance across the board can’t help feeling like a cop out for a show that’s been capable of a lot more.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Bardugo recalled the uproarious reaction to her first book, Ninth House, a bold tale following a Yale student that seeks to uncover the university's secret societies.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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Since recalls generally fall under warranty coverage, these new concerns directly contribute to these costs.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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