Definition & Meaning of "back off"

to back off

[phrase form: back]

to move away from a person, thing, or situation

to no longer be involved in a task or obligation

to avoid telling someone what to do or criticizing them, allowing the person to handle the situation on their own

Example

The cyclist decided to back off from the busy intersection to avoid a potential collision.

The firefighter was forced to back off when the flames intensified.

The crowd was asked to back off to give emergency responders room to work.

The hiker encountered a bear and wisely chose to back off slowly.

The dog growled, warning everyone to back off.

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