back out
Britishverb
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Move or retreat backwards without turning; same as back away , def. 1.
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Also, back out of something . Withdraw from a situation, or break an agreement or engagement. For example, After the announcement appeared in the papers, Mary found it doubly difficult to back out of her engagement to Todd . [Early 1800s] Also see go back on .
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.
According to Peters’ Kick live stream, the influencer is headed back out Wednesday night to celebrate Miami’s Bacara Club streaming launch party.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
It would require Colony Ridge to adopt stricter lending standards and allow buyers to back out of purchases without penalty within two months.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
Despite this, Harris couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, so she tried to back out of the lease.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Unfortunately, the signs are not promising for those desperately hoping that air travel will smooth back out anytime soon.
From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026
“Did you see the size of this place? They don’t even have a gas station here. We’d have to go back out to the highway if we wanted to find a motel.”
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
