stand back
phrasal verb
stood back; standing back; stands back
1
: to take a few steps backwards
The paramedics told the crowd to stand back.
2
: to stop doing something or being actively involved in something for a time in order to think about it and make decisions in a calm and reasonable way
It's time to stand back and take a long hard look at your problems.
Examples of stand back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Robbins told the other deputies to stand back.
—
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
The move breaks a record previously held by Coldplay for most shows in a calendar year; the British group achieved a 10 show stand back in 2024 for the band’s Music of the Spheres jaunt.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2026
The bodyguards stood back and demanded to speak with the person in charge.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In the fall, a protester in Chicago refused to stand back after a federal agent told him to do so.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stand back
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.
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
The move breaks a record previously held by Coldplay for most shows in a calendar year; the British group achieved a 10 show stand back in 2024 for the band’s Music of the Spheres jaunt.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2026
The bodyguards stood back and demanded to speak with the person in charge.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
In the fall, a protester in Chicago refused to stand back after a federal agent told him to do so.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stand back
Cite this Entry
“Stand back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand%20back. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
