back off

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He had to back off a little to manage overheating brakes for 10 laps but then was able to pull away again.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

Deborah famously tried to muzzle Ava a few times, only to back off when she realized that by hurting her protégé, she was wounding herself.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

“Sometimes you just need to show up and talk to the community, to get them to back off, leave it alone.”

From Slate • May 27, 2026

And so that was only possible because there’s a clinical trial, which is another way of saying to the FDA, “Hey, back off a little bit.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

And now they back off, no longer laughing, just watching, watching the back door of the house, the windows, the dark green shades.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli