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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back away
The Trump administration isn’t backing away from its pledges to shutter the Federal Emergency Management Agency and return disaster response to the states.
—
Sean Murphy, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Police were on the scene at the point, and Brown said officers were telling her and others to back away before giving aid to the woman.
—Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
FedEx decreased its sponsorship to have only 13 races last year before fully backing away from its Nascar partnership this year.
—Joseph Wolkin, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The suspect then pulled out a black pistol and pointed it at the couple, who backed away from him.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
Sean Murphy, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Police were on the scene at the point, and Brown said officers were telling her and others to back away before giving aid to the woman.
—Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
FedEx decreased its sponsorship to have only 13 races last year before fully backing away from its Nascar partnership this year.
—Joseph Wolkin, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The suspect then pulled out a black pistol and pointed it at the couple, who backed away from him.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
-
DuPage County has several ways to pay bills, including electronically by having funds withdrawn from a savings or checking account; by credit card, including Visa, MasterCard or Discover; via a wire transfer; or by having a bank write the check.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Fear of one day having a family member detained or deported is linked with upticks in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a chronic anxiety that leads children and adolescents to avoid school or withdraw from public life, the study said.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Previous to Trump’s statement, four former directors of Intel published a commentary exclusive to Fortune, saying the company was likely to retreat as America’s chips champion.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Aug. 2025
-
As the climate warms and destabilizes systems in parts of Alaska, experts said the threat from this type of flooding is not becoming more common, in part because glaciers are retreating.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And there’s a chance next summer’s temperatures could fall back to 2024’s scorching numbers if the A’s decide to play more day games at Sutter Health Park.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The bitcoin price came within touching distance of its all-time high of $123,000 per bitcoin but has fallen back despite U.S. president Donald Trump dropping a $12.2 trillion crypto bombshell.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But the 2026 race to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell wasn't the sole focus of the day (despite McConnell's presence — and his legacy — looming large over the annual rally).—
Bailey Loosemore,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
-
But after retiring two years ago, the 58-year-old Mississippi resident started guiding anglers on inshore fishing trips from his one-of-a-kind, 18-foot Carolina Skiff.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Mortgage rates are currently in the high 6% range, and a drop back to the pandemic-era sub-3% levels is considered unrealistic by economists.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
13 Aug. 2025
-
As moisture increases later this week, a cooling trend will commence with temperatures dropping back into the normal range by Friday.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share