step back
phrasal verb
stepped back; stepping back; steps back
: to stop doing something or being actively involved in something for a time so in order to think about it and make decisions in a calm and reasonable way
You need to step back and give yourself some time to work through this.
Examples of step back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maybe people [are] taking a step back from the sport.
—
Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Walking into HomeTown Video for the first time is like a step back into the early 2000s.
—Otto Rabe, The Enquirer, 25 July 2025
And stepping back, this broader dynamic, once President Trump has exposed these media gatekeepers and smashed this facade, there’s a lot of consequences.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 July 2025
Sometimes, just knowing someone sees them is the first step back toward focus.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step back
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Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Walking into HomeTown Video for the first time is like a step back into the early 2000s.
—Otto Rabe, The Enquirer, 25 July 2025
And stepping back, this broader dynamic, once President Trump has exposed these media gatekeepers and smashed this facade, there’s a lot of consequences.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 July 2025
Sometimes, just knowing someone sees them is the first step back toward focus.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step back
Cite this Entry
“Step back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20back. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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