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
But while returning from China aboard Air Force One on Friday, the President backed away from that, while also criticizing Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, without mentioning the State Representative by name.
—
May 17, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Police said one man interfered as officers tried to assist the victim and refused to back away, ignoring multiple warnings.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
The Guardians aren’t backing away from him in the leadoff spot.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 May 2026
In that case, don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear and increasing your distance.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
May 17, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Police said one man interfered as officers tried to assist the victim and refused to back away, ignoring multiple warnings.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
The Guardians aren’t backing away from him in the leadoff spot.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 May 2026
In that case, don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear and increasing your distance.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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This statute of limitations can effectively block student loan forgiveness for borrowers who seek Borrower Defense relief too long after withdrawing or graduating.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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García and Calvo have had a strained relationship since both attempted to run for office in the city, although García eventually withdrew from the race.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of retreating from global trade, many small and mid-sized companies are leaning in and even accelerating global expansion.—
Greg Hewitt,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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While India’s media landscape has largely retreated in the face of the Hindu right’s fascism, Kandasamy is one of the few consistently at the barricades.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Verb
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MacKinnon crumpled to the ice in pain after blocking the shot, briefly getting to one knee and clearing the puck out of the defensive zone before falling back to the ice.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
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The result is a fashion movie that takes the art at its center for granted, a work of radical narrative freedom which falls back on last season’s tropes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The starter hit the first batter of the game but then retired the next 11 hitters in a row before Colson Montgomery collected Chicago’s first hit of the game with two outs in the fourth inning.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
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Rudisha, known as Rudy, came to the Denver Zoo in 2016 after the Oklahoma City Zoo retired him from a breeding recommendation program.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Overnight temperatures will drop back down to the 50s for the metro area and the mid-40s for northern Minnesota.—
Lisa Meadows,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
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The descent comes by bicycle, dropping back through emerald rice terraces and village lanes as the island wakes up around you.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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