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
Examples of back down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hold for a couple of seconds, then lower back down.
—
Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024
But skinny, scrappy Kennedy didn’t back down from anything.
—Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2024
Following Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the West began to adopt a naming and shaming approach, calling out Russian covert operations in an effort to get Moscow to back down.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2024
By June, disapproval had eased back down to 48 percent, but only 42 percent (including just 23 percent of Democrats) approved.
—Monica Potts, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back down 
Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024
But skinny, scrappy Kennedy didn’t back down from anything.
—Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2024
Following Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the West began to adopt a naming and shaming approach, calling out Russian covert operations in an effort to get Moscow to back down.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2024
By June, disapproval had eased back down to 48 percent, but only 42 percent (including just 23 percent of Democrats) approved.
—Monica Potts, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back down
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 19 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share