Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To withdraw from a commitment, promise, or agreement: To decide not to do something one has agreed or promised to do.
   • To move a vehicle out of a space by driving in reverse: To exit a parking spot, driveway, or similar area by driving backwards.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (withdraw from a commitment):
• Verb (move a vehicle backwards):

Advanced Usage

• "to back out of something": This is the most common construction, used for both meanings. The preposition "of" is followed by the commitment (e.g., a deal, promise, plan) or the physical space (e.g., a driveway, parking spot).

Variants and Related Words

• Backdown (n): An act of withdrawing from a position or commitment.
• Backdown is conceptually related but is a separate noun form.

Synonyms

• Withdraw: To remove oneself from participation.
• Retreat: To move back or withdraw, especially from a difficult situation.
• Renegue: To go back on a promise or commitment (often carries a stronger negative connotation).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pull out: To withdraw from an activity or situation. Often interchangeable with "back out" for commitments.
• Chicken out (informal): To decide not to do something because of fear (specifically for commitments).

Related Idioms

• Get cold feet: To suddenly become too frightened to do something one had planned to do, often leading to backing out.

Verb

1. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
   • We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
   • He backed out of his earlier promise
   • The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
2. move out of a space backwards
   • He backed out of the driveway