as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back out
Barbara ventured back out onto the street in 2023, spending much of the year living in and out of shelters and at a CITGO gas station.
—
Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 16 July 2025
After the team in March backed out of an agreement to build a new stadium as part of a massive redevelopment in downtown St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Times reported that at least four groups — three with Tampa Bay ties and one in Orlando — expressed interest in buying the team.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
With Alcala back out to begin the third, the Rays took a 4-1 lead on three unearned runs.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
Which is why Sherry Sweeney turns around and heads right back out, hoping to make more of those reunions happen.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 16 July 2025
After the team in March backed out of an agreement to build a new stadium as part of a massive redevelopment in downtown St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Times reported that at least four groups — three with Tampa Bay ties and one in Orlando — expressed interest in buying the team.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
With Alcala back out to begin the third, the Rays took a 4-1 lead on three unearned runs.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
Which is why Sherry Sweeney turns around and heads right back out, hoping to make more of those reunions happen.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
-
Jones was part of a generation of Yavapai people who refused to back down when the federal government came for their 24,000-acre reservation in the 1970s and for their slot machines in the early 1990s.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
-
On our way back down, Tetti pointed out a machine the size of a city block, used to grind the quarried marble into calcium carbonate dust.—
Meara Sharma,
The Dial,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Several of the members rejoiced at the news that Polis backed off the proposal.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share