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 Prosecutors backed away from first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges and were asking for Chamberlain to sentence Lester to five years in prison as part of a plea agreement. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2025 As cops backed away from the apartment, Rivera lifted a couch upright and blocked the door with it, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025 Though public calls for boycotts on social media continue to be common, and rarely result in much more than a few days of bad PR, this is just the most recent push calling for Western nations to back away from acquiring the high-cost fighter. — Peter Suciu, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 The developer backed away after getting a chilly reception from Chesterton’s Advisory Plan Commission in November 2022. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025 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 annual auto auction in Canada confirmed Tesla received multiple opportunities to voluntarily withdraw from the event due to safety concerns.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union.
    — Michael Walker, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of withdraw
Verb
  • The document laid out plans for the Polish army to retreat westward to the Vistula River, which runs through the center of Poland, in case of an invasion from the east by Russia.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • But Newsom appears to have fully retreated on trans-inclusive athletics, conceding to right-wing propagandists Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage without a fuss in the first two episodes of Newsom’s podcast earlier this month.
    — Samantha Riedel, Them, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • Powell added that the Federal Reserve still expects inflation to fall back to its target of 2 percent by the end of next year and that Trump's tariff plans will result in a temporary increase in prices rather than causing sustained inflation.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
  • But any stock build-up in the supply chain could drive an initial bump in sales for big producers, which will fall back as customers normalise their levels, Fitch Ratings said.
    — Emma Rumney, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of fall back
Verb
  • Rockwool Denmark retired on Day 1 after a collision during the opening race.
    — Christina House, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have retired and Djokovic’s sand timer is running out of grain.
    — Tim Ellis, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of retire
Verb
  • But the weight soon dropped back down to match the control group.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Fans first got a tease of Chastain and Shallow's appearance on The Traitors season 3 when the show's trailer dropped back in December.
    — Dave Quinn, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
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 28 Mar. 2025.

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