hang back

verb

Definition of hang backnext
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action she hung back in offering her opinion about her daughter's career choices because it wasn't her business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hang back As the other performers migrate from the performance space to the control room to hear the recording, Sehgal hangs back. — Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Those of us not actually knocking hung back in the stairwell; even so, some residents were hesitant to engage. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026 While others in our pack hung back, discussing everything from real estate prices to the effects of social media on teenagers (Really? — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026 Most bystanders hung back, but Pittenger’s sister took action. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hang back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang back
  1. hesitate
  2. falter
Verb
  • The French back line hesitated for a brief second, anticipating a potential foul, but Porro pressed the advantage and side-footed a shot past Mike Maignan in the 58th minute for the backbreaking goal.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Family described him as a kind and humble man who worked hard and never hesitated to help others.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of hesitate
Verb
  • Current training methods, such as reinforcement learning, can produce robots that are very good at consistently performing a specific task under very specific conditions—but such robots may falter on the same task under different conditions.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
  • Without this common utility, even the most complex of war machines will falter.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of falter

Browse Nearby Words

hang (at)
hang back
hangdog
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20back. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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