Phrasal verb
back down
Meanings
to withdraw from a position or stop insisting on something after disagreement or pressure
to move backward or retreat from a place or situation
Definition
To back down means to stop opposing someone or to withdraw from a demand after pressure or disagreement.
When you back down, you decide not to continue a fight, argument, or strong position. You may do this because you realize you are wrong, because the risk is too high, or because you want to avoid conflict. It often suggests you were firm at first but then became less firm.
Examples
- I won’t back down just because the room gets loud.
- She backed down after she realized she had misunderstood the instructions.
- They refused to back down when the other team challenged the rules.
- We backed down from our original plan and chose a simpler approach.
Common mistake
Learners often say "back off" when they mean to withdraw a claim; "back down" is about giving up a position, not telling someone to leave you alone.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.