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)

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.
But, the White House could be playing hardball as a way to put pressure on other countries to strike more deals and not back away from them, argued Bruce Mehlman, who served as assistant secretary of Commerce for technology policy under former President George W. Bush. Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 3 July 2025 Lawmakers passed a measure (SB 296) that backed away from a 2023 law that would have prevented high schools from starting earlier than 8:30 a.m. Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 Purveyors of negativity As the public backlash against companies that try to be agents of change has grown, many CEOs have backed away from making pronouncements on public issues. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 27 June 2025 During recent budget negotiations, the Florida Legislature backed away from a plan to slash funding for Advanced Placement and other college-level classes taken by thousands of high school students statewide. Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025 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 9 Jul. 2025.

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