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.
"We will not back away from defending ourselves against baseless lawsuits," Meta told AFP in July.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Consequently, “if the stock market pulls back inflation should recede, growth prospects dim and the Fed back away from hikes,” he says.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
A Meta spokeswoman told the BBC: "The claims never held up, and this outcome makes clear that we will not back away from defending ourselves against baseless lawsuits."
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Will Robinson stands up and wraps his arms around Sandoval, seemingly to get him to back away from Victoria Robinson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
She trained her feet and hands to know the shapes of things and her mind to sense when she neared an edge and must back away lest she fall.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
