backing (up or away)

present participle of back (up or away)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing (up or away)
Verb
  • Opponents were running away from Watt and toward the somewhat undersized Herbig, and enjoying success.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Investigators determined that Jackson shot the victim and pointed the gun at his friend before running away with Guster, who drove them from the scene, police said.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 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
  • Instead, agriculture accounts for nearly 90% of water usage, including withdrawing non-renewable water reserves.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.
    Michael Holden, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If anything, the two games at Dodger Stadium showed the struggles of the Reds’ offense, with Blake Snell allowing only two base runners in the first six innings of his Game 1 start, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up two runs in the first inning of Game 2 before retiring 13 straight.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The big move by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway to buy the chemicals business of oil giant Occidental Petroleum for nearly $10 billion is a double win for Berkshire, analysts say, in Buffett’s potential swan song deal before retiring at the end of December.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The whole image is a set of geometric elements receding precisely, which either or both ruins or/and enhances a little of the painting’s magic for me.
    Kate Colby October 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Just as this recent wave of protests was receding, leaving behind deep concern and uncertainty, one of the country’s most beloved bands — Just a Band — was staging a reunion at a party celebrating analytical webzine Africa Is a Country’s first print anthology.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Yesterday seemed much more like a team retreating by choice, both through in-game changes and by the sheer fear of surrendering another lead — a fear that became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The video ends with federal agents retreating into a nearby building as protesters advanced toward their position, shouting and cheering.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 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
  • With the rain clearing out of the Sacramento area, Friday evening should be clear with a low of 54 degrees, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
    Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • 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
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 9 Oct. 2025.

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