hang back

verb

hung back; hanging back; hangs back

intransitive verb

1
: to drag behind others
2
: to be reluctant

Examples of hang back in a Sentence

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
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.
Asia hangs back from fetch, left; and right, Kiki gives her space to chase the ball at her own pace. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025 After Fester fried the hospital's power grid, allowing the LOIS patients to escape and begin attacking Judi, Wednesday noticed that one female patient was hanging back. Megan McCluskey, Time, 6 Aug. 2025 New Justices tend to hang back; Jackson, now in her third term, spoke up from the start. Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 June 2025 While everyone else is working to save Bree, Belle hangs back and deals with the dead bodies. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hang back

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hang back was in 1581

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20back. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hang back

verb
1
: to linger behind others
hung back to wait for the slower children
2
: to be unwilling to do something : hesitate
always hangs back when everyone else is dancing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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