back away

verb

backed away; backing away; backs away

intransitive verb

: to move away (as from a stand on an issue or from a commitment)

Examples of back away in a Sentence

backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But some have since backed away, discouraged by long product development cycles and inflated early valuations. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025 The agent jumped out of the golf car, drew his weapon and began to back away. Hannah Phillips, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 And Bahrain and the UAE – the two Gulf Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel – have not backed away from their official relationship. David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025 Prescott and Carter exchanged words after the opening kickoff, and Carter spit on Prescott’s jersey before backing away. Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back away

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back away was in 1833

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Cite this Entry

“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20away. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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