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To move backwards away from something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: literally
Examples
- I tried to back off slowly from the tiger in my path.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Examples
- You need to back off, or the situation could turn ugly.
- I was going to sue until my legal advisors told me to back off.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
To lower the setting of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Examples
- Could you back off the volume a bit? It’s really loud.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dial back, turn down
Antonyms: none provided
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see back, off.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The machine may go back off if it gets too hot. [= turn off again, turn back off].
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
move backwards from a certain position
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The bully had to back down
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: back up, back down
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back
remove oneself from an obligation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: chicken out, pull out, back down, bow out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: retire, withdraw
Narrower terms: resile
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
23 source translations are retained for this English entry.
-
Belarusian:
задкаваць
(zadkavacʹ)
— to move backwards away from something
-
Finnish:
perääntyä
— to move backwards away from something
-
French:
reculer
— to move backwards away from something
-
Hungarian:
hátrál
— to move backwards away from something
-
Polish:
cofnąć się
— to move backwards away from something
-
Polish:
cofać się
— to move backwards away from something
-
Polish:
odsunąć się
— to move backwards away from something
-
Polish:
odsuwać się
— to move backwards away from something
-
Portuguese:
recuar
— to move backwards away from something
-
Portuguese:
retroceder
— to move backwards away from something
-
Russian:
отступа́ть
(otstupátʹ)
— to move backwards away from something
-
Finnish:
malttaa mielensä
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Finnish:
rauhoittua
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
French:
mettre de l'eau dans son vin
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Hungarian:
visszafogja magát
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Hungarian:
visszavesz
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Polish:
uspokoić się
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Spanish:
dejar/parar de insistir
— to become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act
-
Finnish:
alentaa
— to lower the setting of
-
Finnish:
hiljentää
— to lower the setting of
-
French:
baisser d'un ton
— to lower the setting of
-
Hungarian:
lejjebb vesz
— to lower the setting of
-
Polish:
wyciszyć
— to lower the setting of
