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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hang back
While everyone else is working to save Bree, Belle hangs back and deals with the dead bodies.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 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
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 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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Surgery under fire When news of the donor heart came, Todurov did not hesitate.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
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Tran said some Republican clubs have even hesitated to ask their universities for support or security for their events.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Francis was leading from a place of unification and camaraderie where all of these boys, Stebbins included, don’t want to see each other falter and don’t want to see each other die.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2025
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Deals collapse when communication falters.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20back. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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