back away

verb

Definition of back awaynext
as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back away Prices for diesel, the workhorse fuel that powers trucks, tractors, trains and construction vehicles, hit all-time highs last month but has since backed away a bit. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 Mamdani made a rent freeze one of his signature issues on the campaign trail, but has backed away from making many public statements about it as mayor, under the threat of legal action. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026 Heim held out his arms in self-defense while trying to back away and de-escalate the situation. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Some progressives, including Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, have backed away from their earlier support of police defunding. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
  1. withdraw
  2. retreat
  3. fall back
  4. retire
  5. drop back
Verb
  • The man fell into a coma and succumbed to the disease on October 9, 2026, after life support was withdrawn.
    — Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As joyful crowds took to the streets to celebrate the students' victory on Sunday, some in the crowd stoned the withdrawing police and dismantled a camp used by Vucic loyalists in a park in central Belgrade for more than a year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of withdraw
Verb
  • Longtime collaborator Erik Blood foregrounds Butler’s dry drum machines in the mix, letting every other element shuffle around them, snaking toward the spotlight for a brief moment and retreating back into the brume.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • If broadcaster partnerships are helping Netflix expand its offering in Europe and Latin America, India shows why the streamer is unlikely to retreat from investing in local originals.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • The rocket soared to an altitude of about 65 miles before falling back to Earth.
    — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Apple's market value briefly surpassed Nvidia in July, before falling back below.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall back
Verb
  • Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder to second to end it, threw his arms in the air and was mobbed by teammates near the mound while Brewers fans celebrated in the stands.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Amid the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Lincoln retired from the museum in 2014.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of retire
Verb
  • Heavner dropped back before finding a hole up the middle for a 27-yard TD run before the Chippewas again took the lead 24-21 on Jadyn Glasser's 9-yard TD pass to Langston Lewis in the third quarter's final minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Crimson Tide are 5-2 for the season, dropping back-to-back games against Georgia and Tennessee.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of drop back

Browse Nearby Words

back-and-forths
back away
backbeat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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