back away

verb

backed away; backing away; backs away

intransitive verb

: to move away (as from a stand on an issue or from a commitment)

Examples of back away in a Sentence

backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When lawmakers voted to overturn President Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprise decree, security forces backed away. Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024 The Atlantic, citing an unnamed Biden aide, said Harris backed away from a more aggressive economic populist message at the urging of her brother-in-law Tony West, chief legal officer of Uber, who held an influential role in Harris' inner circle. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024 During her 2020 presidential run, Harris supported a ban on fracking, but has backed away from that stance since becoming the Democratic nominee. Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024 Nixon was ready to fair catch a Houston punt, but backed away at the final second. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for back away 

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back away was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near back away

Cite this Entry

“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20away. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on back away

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!