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Definitions

back down

VERB
back off
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon admit back off back out backtrack balk cancel cave in concede give in give up pull back pull out renege retreat surrender take back withdraw
WEAK
accede acquiesce back pedal beg off bow out chicken out cop out demur give ground go back on have no fight left hold back recant recoil resign submit wimp out withdraw from agreement or statement yield
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance allow dispute dissent fight permit refuse reject uphold
WEAK
go forward

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead, having walked right up to that point, he stepped back, and sent the case back down to the appeals court, directing it to apply the test instead.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Oil prices for immediate delivery are up a lot, but traders are pricing oil back down to $85 a barrel by the end of the year, from $111 now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Bovino was sent back down to El Centro and lost his social media privileges, where he had long posted cringe-inducing videos about what a swell guy he was.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Palantir Technologies stock surged on Monday—and then came right back down on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

I reach the top a couple of seconds after he does, but I catch up when we’re jogging back down.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.