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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Recent Examples of back away
McIlroy backed away, drawing jeers, before Lowry came over to settle him.
—
Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Finally, the board will have the good sense to just snap their host laptop shut, but not before a wickedly riotous 10 minutes or so in which absolutely no one backs away from the keyboard.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The clip shows the massive American bully hesitantly backing away from a tiny, energetic puppy.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The request comes after the Sacramento Zoological Society in April backed away from an agreement to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Finally, the board will have the good sense to just snap their host laptop shut, but not before a wickedly riotous 10 minutes or so in which absolutely no one backs away from the keyboard.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The clip shows the massive American bully hesitantly backing away from a tiny, energetic puppy.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The request comes after the Sacramento Zoological Society in April backed away from an agreement to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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White’s legal team challenged it, and in late 2022 an appeals court ruled that the judge had erred in not letting White withdraw his guilty plea.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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In January, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger also withdrew from West African regional bloc Ecowas, having earlier formed their own Alliance of Sahel States grouping.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lady Annabel wore her privilege lightly, and in later years retreated to her home in Richmond, just outside London, enjoying her children, grandchildren and dogs away from the spotlight.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
18 Oct. 2025
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Following the release of his 1996 solo project Euphoria, Vincent retreated from public life.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even when new songs have come for the crown, a lot of them have only remained briefly at the top before falling back behind the top 10’s longterm residents in 2025.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
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If there's a grey area, the co-CEOs can always fall back on Hastings, the company's co-founder and CEO of 25 years.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Delbarton publicly acknowledged in 2018 that at least 30 men had come forward with allegations that, over three decades, 13 past or current priests and monks at the school had victimized them — in addition to a lay faculty member who is now retired.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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Wentz dropped back, planted his back foot and uncorked a missile.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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