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
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
The quarterback stood back there for three seconds and patted the ball and threw it down the field.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Press into the floor with your feet, keep your chest up, and stand back up to complete the squat.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stand back
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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
The quarterback stood back there for three seconds and patted the ball and threw it down the field.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Press into the floor with your feet, keep your chest up, and stand back up to complete the squat.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 9 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 28 Jan. 2026.
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