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Dictionary.com
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.

This brought their forward PE ratios back down from very expensive to be more reasonably priced.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

About 25 minutes before the crew splashed back down on our oasis, Artemis II Cmdr.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

If the consumer proves sufficiently resilient or gas prices move back down, you’ll get some spending lift.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

As the hours ticked by, everyone from Pope Leo to actor Ben Stiller called on Trump to back down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 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