Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing (up or away)
Verb
-
The second man pulled out a gun and shot the first man multiple times before running away, police said.
-
The bear bit through flesh and bone, dragging him for about 20 feet before dropping him and running away.
Verb
-
On June 19, Hathaway casually stepped into the frame of her Instagram Reel in a white maxiskirt and matching blouse, dropping her arms to cradle her growing baby bump before walking out of the shot.
-
Police responded to the home and were met by Mao, covered in blood, walking out of a side gate with holding his phone with his arms and hands raised above his head.
Verb
-
While conventional wisdom had long been that consumers should build up a certain level of savings — six months' worth of living expenses, for example — those who study the accounts now consider saving to be a dynamic process of paying in, withdrawing, and then replenishing.
-
The military held a similar security strip from 1985 until 2000, before withdrawing after years of steady casualties, a toll that is accumulating once again.
Verb
-
Matthews responded by retiring Tommy Edman for the first time in three at-bats and striking out backup catcher Chuckie Robinson.
-
In the 7th Congressional District, Mamdani is backing Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, who is vying to take over retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez's seat.
Verb
-
Stamfordham, a military veteran with a thick drooping mustache and receding hairline, sat down at his desk in Windsor Castle on April 17 and penned a note to the War Office.
-
The film slowly sheds its main characters—receding ice, a grandfather lost, and a grandmother slipping away last.
Verb
-
That may help to explain why premium spirits brands are not retreating in the face of no-and-low.
-
But retreating indoors can come at a cost.
Verb
-
Kramer agreed, crediting facility partners at Sporting Kansas City, the KC Current, the University of Kansas and the $20-million Swope Soccer Village for pulling out the stops to attract the world’s best teams.
-
An unidentified man wearing blue basketball shorts and a Knicks hat was spotted in a video obtained by ABC News getting down on one knee, pulling out a red box and holding up a ring.
Verb
-
What is the best place to resell clothes when clearing out a whole closet?
-
This has nothing to do with aesthetics—clearing out things like branches and bushes helps prevent any blockages or overcrowding.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Backing (up or away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20%28up%20or%20away%29. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
