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
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Recent Examples of hang back
Afterward, while players sat at a long table under one of the baskets, providing autographs for fans, Farokhmanesh hung back.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Seeing the body language of his double-play partner, second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa hung back as well.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The two of them caught food poisoning and had to hang back at the hotel, arriving on the Bravado only two hours before the first guests.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The security guards curse and hang back.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Seeing the body language of his double-play partner, second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa hung back as well.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The two of them caught food poisoning and had to hang back at the hotel, arriving on the Bravado only two hours before the first guests.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The security guards curse and hang back.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang back
Verb
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In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Older workers face forced plateaus as organizations hesitate to invest in workers over 50, assuming their time is limited, minds are dulling, and retirement is imminent.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tech giants flourish or falter based on their decisions to overhaul themselves, often leaving tens of thousands of workers to pay the price.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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As the Bucks falter in the midst of this Antetokounmpo mess, Crowder took to social media to again reflect on the decision of the Bucks to dismiss Adrian Griffin in favor of Rivers midway through the 2023-24 season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20back. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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