How to Use step back in a Sentence

step back

phrasal verb
Definition of step backnext
  • Step through the doors of this 24-hour restaurant and step back in time.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2023
  • Featured Gallery Take a step back in time to the 1930s with our gallery from the archives.
    — Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 20 July 2024
  • This spread to the rest of the crowd, which, rippling with laughter, took a step back from the convoy.
    — Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
  • Thompson steps back and leans against a tree, his eyes sparkling, pride in his smile.
    — Jen Guyton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
  • Next, lift your right foot and step back about several feet to land on the ball on your foot.
    — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Jan. 2024
  • Out comes a record that fails and rebuilds and steps back up to the plate after a strikeout to hit a home run.
    — Madelyn Dawson, SPIN, 15 Aug. 2024
  • Take a step back with right leg, crossing it behind left.
    — Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Sometimes progress is two steps forward and one step back.
    — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 7 July 2023
  • In the process, Bubic became eager to step back onto the field again.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Meet your child at their skill level, then teach, observe and step back.
    — Emily Edlynn, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Maybe Carrie is there to teach us to take a step back and recognize our own flaws.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
  • While Dimon will take a step back as CEO, a move into the chairman role has been teased.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 May 2024
  • Quarterback Jake Fromm snapped the ball and stepped back into the pocket.
    — Irie Harris, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2023
  • But if an artist doesn’t take time to step back and see the big picture, they’ll get lost in their viral moment.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024
  • Mitty might take a slight step back with the graduation of three starters, but the Monarchs should still be the class of the Bay Area.
    — Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024
  • But Branch’s boy band brothers step back into the picture and shake up the status quo.
    — J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023
  • The hope is that by taking a step back, students can begin to move forward.
    — By Ariel Gilreath Of The Hechinger Report and Jackie Valley Of The Christian Science Monitor, Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2023
  • For Morris, her new music is a response to stepping back and away from all of that.
    — Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2023
  • There is police footage of Epps thanking the police officers and telling the crowd to step back.
    — Amy Eskind, Peoplemag, 19 July 2023
  • Take a step back, assess the situation and get clear on your goals.
    — Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2024
  • Elliott steps back and decides on another black gum left of the front door.
    — Bishop Sand, Washington Post, 6 July 2024
  • Entry doors will reopen and passengers will have a chance to remove the item and step back in.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2023
  • After roughly 30 seconds, those around the crates stepped back, giving the wolf space.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 20 Dec. 2023
  • But take a step back, or peer at an angle, and the outline of a figure comes into focus.
    — Julia Halperin, Robb Report, 15 July 2023
  • The latest round of violence is another step back for the peace process.
    — Chris Massaro, Fox News, 1 Nov. 2023
  • The Oilers may finally be ready to step back into the light, curses be damned.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
  • What did preparing to step back into Omar’s world look like?
    — Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Charles is stepping back from his task of being among his subjects to focus on his health.
    — Sylvia Hui, Danica Kirka, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024
  • This decision to step back was widely seen as a reaction to what happened four years ago.
    — Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
  • If tensions rise, try stepping back rather than charging forward.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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