Home › Words › B › backdownbackdownbackdown means an act of backing down; a retraction or withdrawal.EtymologyFrom back + down.nounAn act of backing down; a retraction or withdrawal.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.pullback 74% match — The act or result of pulling back; a withdrawal. vs backdown →climbdown 72% match — A retreat or withdrawal from an earlier position or opinion; a backdown. vs backdown →backpedal 70% match — To pedal backwards on a bicycle. vs backdown →backpedaling 70% match — The act of distancing oneself from a previously supported idea, action, behaviour, etc.; a U-turn or flip-flop. vs backdown →retraction 70% match — An act or instance of retracting. vs backdown →backrush 69% match — A rushing backward; a retreat. vs backdown →retreating 69% match — The act of moving back from something; a retreat. vs backdown →backout 67% match — A reversal or undoing of tasks previously done (often in reverse order). vs backdown →