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
Instead, keep a safe distance, back away slowly, and let the bear know you are there by making yourself look bigger and yelling or clapping.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Beijing appeared to back away from the sales under a public U.S. pressure campaign.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 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
“Yeah, maybe I will!” shouted Ron, and he took several steps toward Harry, who did not back away.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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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.
