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
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 down
Bring your right arm back down and place it on the inside of your front foot.
—
Andy Fata-Chan, Contributor, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
But the forecast shows a cold front moving in Sunday, bringing temperatures back down to the normal.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
Neither side appears willing to back down from the territorial dispute.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
There are multiple gates in each of the three sets of locks that elevate ships from sea level on the Atlantic, up eighty-five feet into Gatun Lake, then back down to sea level on the Pacific.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back down 
Andy Fata-Chan, Contributor, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
But the forecast shows a cold front moving in Sunday, bringing temperatures back down to the normal.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
Neither side appears willing to back down from the territorial dispute.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
There are multiple gates in each of the three sets of locks that elevate ships from sea level on the Atlantic, up eighty-five feet into Gatun Lake, then back down to sea level on the Pacific.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
-
Hoffman’s cruiser struck the driver side door of the Mercedes before Bell tried backing out.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Don't think this is the time to leave your plants back out on the porch.—
Remington Miller,
arkansasonline.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Private companies, some of which had already begun the transition before Trump took office, remarkably began backing off their DEI policies, even if only symbolically with little internal change.—
Casey Harper | The Center Square,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
15 Feb. 2025
-
In an effort to prevent a crash, sheriff’s pursuit cars backed off as the pickup approached the Payette River Canyon.—
Max Silverson,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
The company last year issued a profit warning after it was hit by sliding sales in China and forced to recall 1.5 million vehicles due to potentially faulty brake systems developed by Continental.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Neighbors recalled the girl as cheerful and her parents as loving.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near back down
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share