as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back away
Trim bushes and shrubs back at least 12 inches from the home and cut tree branches back away from the roofline.
—
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
Wright, who started 42 games over four seasons at Tennessee, didn’t back away from those hopes.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Local governments across Florida have received letters from the state Department of Commerce declaring their comprehensive plan amendments since August 2024 to be null and void, have been sued or have backed away from planning changes to avoid legal peril.
—Haley Busch, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
When officers attempted to have Michael Barrientes Vela back away, his brothers interfered.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
Wright, who started 42 games over four seasons at Tennessee, didn’t back away from those hopes.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Local governments across Florida have received letters from the state Department of Commerce declaring their comprehensive plan amendments since August 2024 to be null and void, have been sued or have backed away from planning changes to avoid legal peril.
—Haley Busch, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
When officers attempted to have Michael Barrientes Vela back away, his brothers interfered.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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His is a more enlightened era, but Hannes, lonely and withdrawn, doesn’t share his classmates’ interest in campus sit-ins and free love.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Days after four Republican candidates withdrew from the upcoming Platte County election and launched independent campaigns, the county’s Republican committee announced plans to censure those candidates and deem them unwelcome within the party.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Wolves will retreat to their corner, bandage some wounds and aim to actually come out swinging Friday after cowering in the corner for the bulk of Game 2.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
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As Elliot retreats from the devastating reality of his illness, father and daughter are forced to confront the unspoken truths between them.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Authorities typically publish airspace warning notices called NOTAMs advising pilots to steer clear of a rocket’s flight path and downrange drop zones where spent booster rockets fall back to Earth.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
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The price of the international benchmark for oil, Brent crude, rose to more than $126 a barrel at one point overnight — the highest since 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine — before falling back to around $114 a barrel early Thursday.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mary Brown retired after coaching boys and girls volleyball in the district for 19 years, including the past eight years with the Knights’ boys team.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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But, after the couple retired and migrated south to Mexico City, Hurst dove back into photography with gusto, until his death, from cancer, in 2023.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The price later dropped back down.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
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Newcastle’s players have had to drop back to defend Arsenal’s direct attack, so their players are now not as well-positioned to cause their opponents problems in the first line of their build-up.—
Jon Mackenzie,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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