hang back

hang back

verb

Definition of HANG BACK

to show uncertainty about the right course of action <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>

Synonyms balance, dither, falter, halt, hang back, scruple, shilly-shally, stagger, teeter, vacillate, waver, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words haw, hem; dally, dawdle, delay, linger, pause, procrastinate, wait; back down, chicken (out); consider, debate, deliberate, ponder, weigh; oscillate, sway; equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, waffle

Near Antonyms decide; budge, stir; advance, continue

Antonyms dive (in), plunge (in)