back down
Britishverb
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(intr, adverb) to withdraw an earlier claim
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(tr) rowing to cause (a boat) to move backwards by pushing rather than pulling on the oars
noun
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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]
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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.
“What anyone really cares about is the prices that went up didn’t come back down, and their wages didn’t keep up with it,” Swonk said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
The government's retreat marks a rare reversal for a leader whose brand has for more than a decade projected strength and an unwillingness to back down.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
It’s no secret that some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee favor interest-rate hikes to coax inflation back down.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026
Ballistic missiles travel into the upper atmosphere or space before plunging back down toward a target, but not all are capable of maneuvering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Dirt and dry leaves whooshed into the air, and then settled slowly back down.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
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.
