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
Green Bay has the looks of a true contender and cannot afford to take a step back while its receiver room is on the mend.
—
Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
And stepping back from in-store fulfillment has the potential to help solve, or at least improve on, some of those issues.
—Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Similarly, a step back from Ottawa and Montreal is also possible, following the surprise of those two last year.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Bruce was taking a step back from acting because of aphasia, or damage to the parts of the brain involving language.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step back
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Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
And stepping back from in-store fulfillment has the potential to help solve, or at least improve on, some of those issues.
—Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Similarly, a step back from Ottawa and Montreal is also possible, following the surprise of those two last year.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Bruce was taking a step back from acting because of aphasia, or damage to the parts of the brain involving language.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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