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step back
/stɛp bæk/◆phrasal verb
to move backward or reconsider
She stepped back to let others enter the room first.
She moved backward to allow others to go ahead of her.
literal
to move backward physically
He stepped back to avoid the falling object.
He moved backward to stay out of the way.
Used in physical contexts to describe movement.
figurative
to reconsider or reassess a situation
After the argument, she decided to step back and think.
She took a moment to reconsider her position.
Often used in emotional or decision-making contexts.
Collocations
step back and thinkto pause and reconsiderstep back from the edgeto move away from danger
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative Use
Be mindful of the context to determine if 'step back' refers to physical movement or a mental reassessment.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'step back' depends heavily on the situation. In physical contexts, it means moving backward, while in emotional or decision-making contexts, it means reconsidering.
Word Origin
Derived from the combination of the verb 'step' and the preposition 'back', indicating movement in reverse.
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (physical movement) and figuratively (reconsidering a decision).
Word Breakdown
step
to move one's foot
rootback
in reverse or backward direction
prepositionEnglish Dictionary