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.

It then rises, along with oestrogen, during the latter stages, bringing your body temperature back down.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

“She was just hounded and just critiqued with terrible jokes,” Perry said, but she didn’t back down.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026

The $30 trillion Treasury market has been on edge ever since Fed Chair Kevin Warsh began talking tough about the need to get inflation back down to 2%.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

Mr. Newsom had myriad levers he could have pulled to get the union to back down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

I did not know, as I listened to Father’s footsteps winding back down the stairs, that he had given me more than the key to this hard moment.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

back down

Example Sentences

Related Words