BACK OFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does back off mean? 

• BACK OFF (verb)
  The verb BACK OFF has 2 senses:

1. move backwards from a certain position

2. remove oneself from an obligation

  Familiarity information: BACK OFF used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BACK OFF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move backwards from a certain position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

back down; back off; back up

Context example:

The bully had to back down

Hypernyms (to "back off" 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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove oneself from an obligation

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved

Hypernyms (to "back off" 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 off"):

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

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

This he resented, and when she stood shoulder to shoulder with him, bristling and showing her teeth, the aspiring solitary ones would back off, turn-tail, and continue on their lonely way.

(White Fang, by Jack London)