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.

See Examples For:

back down

"We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

This is different from when Foster was CEO where issues went up to him and decisions came back down, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Ahead of the decision to hold off on the new tariffs, analysts had been forecasting that Trump would back down.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Campaigners have called for balloon releases to be banned because of the risk to wildlife when the material falls back down.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

I sit back down on the sofa and wonder how long before the aspirin kicks in, because my head is still killing me.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

back down

Example Sentences

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Related Words