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

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The Lakers, whose defense ranks No. 25 in the league (117.6 defensive rating) even with Davis playing at an elite level, are still looking to shore things up on that end of the floor after taking an even further step back during the trip. —

Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024 Meditative thinking is to step back and observe your relationship with the world. —

Theodore McDarrah, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Ten weeks into the season, now is a great time to take a step back and dive into the latest Super Bowl 59 odds. —

Matt Modi, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 The former president reluctantly stepped back from his previous criticism, encouraging Republicans to vote early in 2024. —

Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for step back