back away
Idioms-
Walk backward, as in He cautiously backed away from the fire .
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Gradually retreat, withdraw, as in Since he couldn't convince his colleagues, he's backing away from his original idea . Both usages employ the verb back in the sense of “retreat,” dating from the late 1400s. Also see back down ; back out .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fernandes' crosses from the right swing back away from goal, which often gives his team-mates space to head the ball.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Many of the portfolio companies of private-equity firms could back away from selected AI tools once these joint ventures expire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
That rally was enough to get skeptic BNP Paribas analyst David O’Connor to back away from his bearish call on the stock.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 21, 2026
If you encounter a coyote, keep a safe distance and back away slowly while maintaining eye contact, according to the agency.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
They either back away from the counter and talk to me from like ten feet away or they suddenly get busy doing something else and ignore me completely.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
