as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
she hung back in offering her opinion about her daughter's career choices because it wasn't her business
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Recent Examples of hang back
Afterward, while players sat at a long table under one of the baskets, providing autographs for fans, Farokhmanesh hung back.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Seeing the body language of his double-play partner, second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa hung back as well.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The two of them caught food poisoning and had to hang back at the hotel, arriving on the Bravado only two hours before the first guests.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The security guards curse and hang back.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Seeing the body language of his double-play partner, second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa hung back as well.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The two of them caught food poisoning and had to hang back at the hotel, arriving on the Bravado only two hours before the first guests.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The security guards curse and hang back.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang back
Verb
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Asked during a keynote appearance at Berlin’s European Film Market whether such a deal would be good for the film business, Ford didn’t hesitate.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Glenn and his friends were asked to meet some girls, and the teens didn’t hesitate.—
Yolanda Harris,
AJC.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The announcement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks.—
JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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Lock went 4-1 as a starter in 2019 after taking over from veteran Joe Flacco, but faltered in a rocky 2020, with a league-leading 13 interceptions in just 13 games.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20back. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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