step back
phrasal verb
stepped back; stepping back; steps back
: to stop doing something or being actively involved in something for a time so in order to think about it and make decisions in a calm and reasonable way
You need to step back and give yourself some time to work through this.
Examples of step back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stepping through the doors feels like stepping back in time, in a good way, with old-school service, a delightful lobby bar, and humongous suites, some with skyline views of Rome.
—
Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024
From a video shared on the X post, once the crew created a hole big enough for Faye to get through, the firefighters stepped back and called out Faye’s name and whistled until the dog slowly walked through the hole.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex founded the Archewell Foundation after stepping back from their royal duties in Britain in 2020 and moving to California.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
The visit was significant as their first international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, and the couple traveled at the invitation of the Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff, the country's highest-ranking military official.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
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
Since opening up about her decision to step back from modeling, Hadid will now have ample time to dedicate towards her enduring passion for fragrance.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
In an era of instant communication, poetry slows us down, tells us to step back and take time to relish the words, to smell the flowers, to more fully inhabit our lives.
—Monitor Contributing Poets, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
The onsite bar, appropriately called the Officer’s Club, will cool your jets after your arrival, setting the stage to relax and step back in time (albeit temporarily) to the original cool-kid era of flying.
—Julie Destefano, Robb Report, 7 May 2024
Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024
From a video shared on the X post, once the crew created a hole big enough for Faye to get through, the firefighters stepped back and called out Faye’s name and whistled until the dog slowly walked through the hole.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex founded the Archewell Foundation after stepping back from their royal duties in Britain in 2020 and moving to California.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
The visit was significant as their first international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, and the couple traveled at the invitation of the Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff, the country's highest-ranking military official.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
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
Since opening up about her decision to step back from modeling, Hadid will now have ample time to dedicate towards her enduring passion for fragrance.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
In an era of instant communication, poetry slows us down, tells us to step back and take time to relish the words, to smell the flowers, to more fully inhabit our lives.
—Monitor Contributing Poets, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
The onsite bar, appropriately called the Officer’s Club, will cool your jets after your arrival, setting the stage to relax and step back in time (albeit temporarily) to the original cool-kid era of flying.
—Julie Destefano, Robb Report, 7 May 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near step back
Cite this Entry
“Step back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20back. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
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