backing (up or away)

Definition of backing (up or away)next
present participle of back (up or away)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing (up or away)
Verb
  • Police said in each incident, the suspect breaks in through the back door and steals jewelry, clothes, and electronics before running away.
    Natalie Goldstick, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Morales grabbed a patio chair to fend off his attackers before running away with his assailants in tow, prosecutors said.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Poignant photos from the trip shared with CNN show the father and son walking out of Beijing Capital International Airport, as well as reuniting with Ai’s 93-year-old mother.
    Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
  • In a promo for the project, Earle is seen walking out of Netflix offices, talking to her father on the phone.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Uhlaender accused the Canadian team and its coach, Joe Cecchini, of intentionally withdrawing the athletes, deliberately manipulating the field to benefit one of their own sliders’ bids for qualification.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
  • In so doing, avoid withdrawing NATO’s commitment to defend NATO member states’ remote, former (and, in the case of Cyprus, coincidentally insular) colonial territories was thus established as a norm for the alliance, not an exception – one that is newly relevant once again.
    Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Adam Wainwright played for Team USA in the final year of his career in 2023, and Clayton Kershaw will play for America this year despite retiring after last season.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • After retiring as an official, Kortz met frequently with friends and fellow sports enthusiasts, including at the McDonald’s restaurant at 105th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Other extant primates typically have receding lower jaws, without a distinct protrusion.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Not when Kate is receding into the background, like Homer Simpson into his hedge.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The film’s opening stretch whizzes along as Charli — a natural, engaging actor — is dragged from one banal, vaguely embarrassing meeting or negotiation to another, sketchy vignettes usually punctuated at their close by Charli putting on her dark sunglasses and retreating back inward.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Trump’s remarks Wednesday, suddenly retreating from his threat of military force, could mitigate some of the damage inflicted on Washington’s most cherished relationships.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Robotaxi companies are pulling out all the stops to come to NYC.
    Sara Lind, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The sofa converts into sleeper mode by pulling out an additional footrest (designed like a drawer) that meets the length of the reversible chaise.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • There are likely a million different to-dos running through your mind, from researching neighborhoods and clearing out your basement to getting preapproved for a mortgage and finding a realtor to work with.
    Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Despite the holiday season clearing out offices, sending thousands on vacation, and shutting down stores early, CEOs tell Fortune their work lives are still intense.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
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.

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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 31 Jan. 2026.

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