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.
Due in large part to the release of video footage showing McGlockton starting to back away, Drejka was eventually charged with manslaughter.
From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026
On the first-quarter call, executives didn’t back away from the bank’s medium-term target of a 17% to 18% return on tangible common equity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
If one encounters a potentially dangerous snake, stop and back away, keeping a good distance from the snake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 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
Ever the political pugilist who felt obliged to answer every bell, Adams refused to back away from his belief that the new American government needed a strong executive presence.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
