back away

Idioms

Walk backward, as in He cautiously backed away from the fire .
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.

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

Until it is, there remains the potential for Maguire to either strike a deal with another club - which, under freedom of contract regulations, he is entitled to do - or United back away.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Jamie George insists England's slump in the Six Nations Championship is a temporary affair, with the hooker confident the side will bounce back away to Italy.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

I brought my weight down on the rear-bar and pulled and rocked and levered the sledge back away from the edge of the crevasse.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023