To withdraw from a commitment, agreement, or plan, especially after promising to take part.
To say you won't do something you already agreed to do.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To withdraw from a commitment, promise, or agreement after having agreed to it.
"He backed out of the deal at the last minute, leaving his partners in a very difficult position."
Trump backs out of summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
— CNN, May 2018 headline
To reverse a vehicle out of a space.
"She backed the car out of the garage and headed towards the motorway."
To move backwards out of a space.
To say you won't do something you already agreed to do.
Often followed by 'of': 'back out of a deal'. Implies a breach of commitment and may carry a negative connotation. Very common in everyday speech and journalism. Also used literally for vehicles reversing out of a space.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "back out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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