back off

verb

backed off; backing off; backs off

intransitive verb

: back down

Synonyms of back off

• back down
• back out
• cop out

Examples of back off in a Sentence

you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance

Recent Examples on the Web

After intense opposition from environmentalists and local residents and business owners, the agency backed off plans this year to build a 30-foot-tall bollard wall through the park. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

After intense opposition from environmentalists and local residents and business owners, CBP backed off plans this year to build a 30-foot-tall bollard wall through the park. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Rachelle described in detail the way that the Honda had backed off the cliff, flipping multiple times. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Her biggest gripe was with the aviation industry and its longstanding rule that flight attendants aren’t paid until the plane backs off from the gate (or the aircraft doors are closed). — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

back off

verb

: back down