Library / English Dictionary

BACK DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move backwards from a certain position

Example:

The bully had to back down

Synonyms:

back down; back off; back up

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "back down" is one way to...):

draw back; move back; pull away; pull back; recede; retire; retreat; withdraw (pull back or move away or backward)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

backdown (a retraction of a previously held position)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove oneself from an obligation

Example:

He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved

Synonyms:

back down; back off; bow out; chicken out; pull out

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "back down" is one way to...):

retire; withdraw (lose interest)

Verb group:

get out; pull out (move out or away)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "back down"):

resile (pull out from an agreement, contract, statement, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

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