step back

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

Nick Kurtz was also good again, Shea Langeliers was an All-Star, Zack Gelof had a bounceback, and Henry Bolte emerged in center field (making up for Denzel Clarke taking a step back). — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Sunday’s season-opening debacle — a sloppy, uninspired and uninspiring 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium — was a first, giant step back for these Chargers. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Larson led 284 laps in this year's spring race before finishing third, and even that was a step back from his recent Bristol dominance. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Atlanta Falcons steps back to pass during the joint practice against the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park Sports Campus on August 19, 2026 in Westfield, Indiana. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 11 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for step back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback