back down

verb

backed down; backing down; backs down

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from a commitment or position

Examples of back down in a Sentence

if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
Recent Examples on the Web And these areas are most at risk In true Arizona fashion, the start of March is embraced with near 80-degree weather, before cooling back down to the low- to mid-70s. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 Now, the two are taking their baseball attention back down south. David Bernauer, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 Now, climbers will be given the bags at base camp and expected to carry the bags back down at the end of the journey. Colleen Grablick, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 At the same time, gravity is doing its best to pull you back down, and your muscles have to work overtime to surmount that resistance, as SELF previously explained. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 20 Feb. 2024 As both queens refuse to back down from their first choice, Plane Jane finally breaks the tension by calling for a high-stakes game of rock, paper, scissors for the role. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 15 Feb. 2024 The Fed is trying to get inflation back down to its target of 2%. Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 23 Feb. 2024 Park Dan, head of emergency committee at Korea Intern Resident Association, told national TV broadcaster KBS, doctors are not backing down to the government and will remain off the job. Jenny Lee, Fortune Asia, 22 Feb. 2024 And in some ways, Samsung’s Chat Assist tool backs down when it’s arguably needed most. Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back down was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near back down

Cite this Entry

“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20down. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

back down

verb
: to retreat from a stand one has taken or from a challenge one has accepted

More from Merriam-Webster on back down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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