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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Recent Examples of back down
Yet, Atlanta didn’t take it back down to the studs, even as rumors abounded last year that the Hawks would be willing to move Young.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither of the geopolitical rivals has yet to back down.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither Washington nor Beijing appears likely to back down anytime soon, keeping tensions high across a range of issues—from the technology race to China's pressure on Taiwan and its actions in the South China Sea.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Davidson headed off to his hotel for a quick rest, then an early flight back down south.
—Arthur Staple, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither of the geopolitical rivals has yet to back down.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither Washington nor Beijing appears likely to back down anytime soon, keeping tensions high across a range of issues—from the technology race to China's pressure on Taiwan and its actions in the South China Sea.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Davidson headed off to his hotel for a quick rest, then an early flight back down south.
—Arthur Staple, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Dave didn’t want to go back out.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
23 Mar. 2025
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And the new Bet Back Token gives customers a chance to back out of a bad bet.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Another source said Sörensen backed off the officials once it was explained Bedard had been holding Nemec’s stick.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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On March 11, Trump threatened a 50% tariff on Canada’s aluminum and steel but backed off the same day after Ontario agreed to suspend its 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York.—
David Goldman,
CNN,
24 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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Andor star Diego Luna recently recalled that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) director Gareth Edwards originally pitched him on the film by comparing his vision to Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001), which starred a young Luna.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Others recalled being teased and taunted for not fitting the stereotype of what an audience for a band like Metallica is expected to look like.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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