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
New Justices tend to hang back; Jackson, now in her third term, spoke up from the start.
—
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
But trading partners may want to hang back to assess the situation before resuming negotiations.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Margie’s Intention, the morning line’s second favorite trained by Brad Cox, played the conditions, hanging back until Paris Lily lost her legs in the deep slush.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
This is a prime opportunity for parents to enjoy a morning ride while grandparents hang back with grandchildren to meet a baby goat, pet friendly pigs and, on select days, collect eggs from the henhouse.
—Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
But trading partners may want to hang back to assess the situation before resuming negotiations.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Margie’s Intention, the morning line’s second favorite trained by Brad Cox, played the conditions, hanging back until Paris Lily lost her legs in the deep slush.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
This is a prime opportunity for parents to enjoy a morning ride while grandparents hang back with grandchildren to meet a baby goat, pet friendly pigs and, on select days, collect eggs from the henhouse.
—Margaux Lushing, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hang back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang back
Verb
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Shaking in his seat, Dobby initially hesitated to comment on the subject, but then segment anchor Michael Che offered him some encouragement.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
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The director hesitated to watch the film at the Cannes Classics showing.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Neither should be a reason to falter too much and Lee doesn’t want any excuses.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Oct. 2025
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Confidence in business conditions and job availability has weakened sharply, raising concerns that the spending power underpinning corporate growth could falter.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20back. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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