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

Hasan Piker this week again cast Hamas in a favorable light, refusing to back away from his support for the terrorist organization that has controlled Gaza, despite backlash from many Democrats. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

In the video, Chacon picks up the gun, and officers back away from the vehicle yelling at Chacon to put his weapon down. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

The mission will arrive at the moons in 2027, spend two years mapping Phobos and selecting a landing site for sampling before backing away to observe Deimos. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Nike didn’t back away from the Kaepernick experiment, either. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 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