back down
Britishverb
-
(intr, adverb) to withdraw an earlier claim
-
(tr) rowing to cause (a boat) to move backwards by pushing rather than pulling on the oars
noun
-
Reverse one's upward course, descend. For example, When she saw the wasps' nest on the roof, she hastily backed down the ladder . This literal usage usually refers to something one has climbed, such as a ladder or mountain. [Mid-1800s]
-
Also, back off . Retreat or yield. For example, As the watchdog began to snarl the letter carrier backed off , or You have a good point; now don't back down when you present it to the board . [First half of 1900s] Also see back away , def. 2.
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.
In 2013, the last Masters for Bennett, he drove Arnold Palmer back to the airport and they both got teary rolling back down Magnolia Lane and out of the club.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
About 25 minutes before the crew splashed back down on our oasis, Artemis II Cmdr.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Negotiations beginning this weekend will determine how long the cease-fire will last, and whether oil prices will come back down.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 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
“We could go back down to the parlor,” I offer.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
