backing (up or away)

present participle of back (up or away)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing (up or away)
Verb
  • Pope stabbed himself in the neck before running away, Ghannam said.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2025
  • When match officials placed a more-than-three-foot-tall trophy in the middle of the ring, Ali grabbed it and feigned running away with it.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At least that part of it, just simply by walking out the back door and going to see somebody.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2025
  • To avoid this – and any costly repairs or replacements–be sure they are unplugged before walking out the door.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pederson had been withdrawing money from the Ronald McDonald House checking account and depositing it into her personal PayPal account, according to the criminal complaint.
    Karen Madden, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Despite international aid groups withdrawing from Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s oppressive regime and its persecution of women and girls, the Reynolds chose to remain.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, the fact of the matter is that the future Hall of Fame quarterback will likely be retiring following the 2025 campaign.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Suzan Fete, Renaissance Theaterworks' longtime artistic director and the final cofounder still with the company, is retiring at the end of this theater season.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That building, at 505 State Street — the city’s first all-electric skyscraper — consists of a set of receding pie slices elegantly trimmed in bronze.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Other big names in American lexicography were already receding.
    Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Later, half of them mime shooting the others, who are retreating with their hands up.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Mike Bailey delivered a superkick to Dax Harwood, and Kevin Knight hit Cash Wheeler with a dropkick, sending FTR and Stokely retreating and ending the chaotic confrontation.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After the attack in Doha, Qatar reportedly asked the UAE and Bahrain to close their embassies in Israel—a step that would mean pulling out of the agreement—but both countries have ignored that request.
    Monica Marks, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Within minutes of pulling out of the neighborhood, motion alerts pinged her phone.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After clearing out each chamber of enemies, players are met with an offering that often leads to a choice.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
  • As summer ends, Amazon is clearing out its inventory with massive outdoor deals in the Overstock Outlet.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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 2 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!