back away

verb

backed away; backing away; backs away
Synonyms of back awaynext

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.
Since the pandemic, private equity funds and other institutional investors have backed away from oil and gas in part due to pressure from environmentally conscious stakeholders. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026 Stay calm and back away slowly. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2026 Workers back away from Wells Fargo union Like North Carolina, Florida is a right-to-work state. Chase Jordan april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026 In that interaction, forehead-to-forehead with Ayers and then slowly backing away, back to his bench, Hurley never blinked. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026 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 11 Apr. 2026.

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