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
Puck first reported that Amazon had stepped back from the title.
—
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 June 2026
Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in California, left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Keeping the movement slow and controlled, step back down.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 18 June 2026
But as aldermen test their footing, Johnson’s team has taken a step back.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for step back
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Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 June 2026
Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in California, left the UK for North America in 2020 after stepping back from royal life, and have since been involved in a long-running, public falling out with his family.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Keeping the movement slow and controlled, step back down.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 18 June 2026
But as aldermen test their footing, Johnson’s team has taken a step back.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026
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 21 Jun. 2026.
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