hang back

verb

hung back; hanging back; hangs back

intransitive verb

1

: to drag behind others

2

: to be reluctant

Synonyms of hang back

• hesitate
• falter

Examples of hang back in a Sentence

even though the young mother wanted the job, she still hung back because she wasn't sure if she should spend time away from her family

Recent Examples on the Web

Liev hangs back as his wife, Taylor, tosses a handful of worms inside to Grandma, Sizzurp, Fern, Pico, and Miu Miu—a clucking brood whose eggs are packed into custom cartons stamped Hazel’s Hens, named for the couple’s toddler daughter, Hazel Bee. — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

The 22-year-old likes to get touch-tight to attackers but is an adept reader of the game too, knowing when to hang back. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Students who do well move on to separate rooms known as mastery labs for accelerated coursework, while those who struggle hang back for further help from teachers. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2026

Uncle Jimmy hung back by the drippy windows at the rear of the kitchen nursing a Schlitz. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hang back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

hang back

verb

1

: to linger behind others

hung back to wait for the slower children

2

: to be unwilling to do something : hesitate

always hangs back when everyone else is dancing