backing (up or away)

verb

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing (up or away)
  1. running away
  2. walking out
  3. withdrawing
  4. retiring
  5. receding
  6. retreating
  7. pulling out
  8. clearing out
Verb
  • In video released by police, an officer exits his vehicle and points his gun at Ryan Hinton, who appears to be running away.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • One deputy tried to use a Taser on the dog, which sent the animal running away.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of running away
Verb
  • On the one hand, the journalist’s role is to gather information, and so walking out or not covering news events poses a difficult conundrum.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In France, high schoolers have been walking out since mid-September over teacher shortages, classrooms that sometimes top 40 students.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of walking out
Verb
  • The city would also be prohibited from withdrawing more than 50% of the amount of money in the fund unless the mayor certifies that there is a compelling fiscal need.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Uganda is withdrawing troops deployed for years in Somalia under an African Union peacekeeping force that helped repel militants in the Horn of Africa nation, military authorities said on Monday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of withdrawing
Verb
  • So does providing liquidity to retiring senior partners and setting up the next generation for success.
    — Will Hausberg, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The company announced Scott Lovett, president of Go To Market, will be retiring in 2027.
    — Davis Giangiulio,Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of retiring
Verb
  • There is the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau on an island in the Loire Valley, plagued by flooding, as well as the opposite—receding water levels that expose its wooden, foundational beams to air and decomposition.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Neeley said the floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of which has been contaminated with sewage because of failures at waste plants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of receding
Verb
  • French social media users criticized Mbappé for retreating on his comments.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The pool is the best spot to take in the sunset before retreating to the open-air dining space for good eats and conversation.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreating
Verb
  • The abrupt development came on the heels of BC Partners pulling out of its arrangement to invest $300 million into the LIV Golf League after a simple head count made clear not enough of the circuit’s top golfers planned to return in 2027.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • National groups from both parties began pulling out of the race earlier this month, signaling that both now view the contest as less competitive than previously thought.
    — Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pulling out
Verb
  • The Marlins exercised ace Sandy Alcantara’s $21 million team option for 2027 on Friday while also clearing out space on their 40-man roster for potential additions.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Royals made swift changes by reassigning hitting coach Alec Zumwalt and clearing out their entire training staff.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of clearing out
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

backing (up)
backing (up or away)
backland
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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 8 Nov. 2026.

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