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)

Synonyms of back away

• withdraw
• retreat
• fall back
• retire
• drop back

Examples of back away in a Sentence

backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully

Recent Examples on the Web

About 10 seconds after the first officer approached, Villegas Gonzalez put his car in reverse and backed away from them. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

McBride backed away, noticed a nearby broadcast camera, and pointed directly at the lens to signal the interaction was captured live. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

According to the sheriff’s office, Thaxton ran towards the caller’s car, causing the driver to back away from him. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026

Prices for diesel, the workhorse fuel that powers trucks, tractors, trains and construction vehicles, hit all-time highs last month but has since backed away a bit. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back away

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway