stepping back
"Stepping back" can refer to physical movement, reduction of involvement, emotional detachment, or a nostalgic reference to the past.
Definition
A2General
To physically move backward, away from a position or location.
Example
- She stepped back to get a better view of the painting.
B2Professional
(business)To reduce one's involvement or role in a particular task or responsibility.
Example
- He decided to step back from his managerial duties to focus on strategic planning.
B2Emotional
(therapeutic)To prevent oneself from becoming emotionally involved in a situation.
Example
- The counselor advised her to step back and not get too emotionally invested in the outcome.
B2Temporal
(idiomatic)To go back into the past, often used to describe a nostalgic or retro experience.
Example
- Listening to that old song made me feel like I was stepping back in time.
C1Rail Transport
(technical)A system where a second driver takes over an arriving train to decrease turnaround time at terminal stations.
Example
- The stepping back system helps improve efficiency at busy train terminals.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "stepping back":
step backstand backback awaystep downstep offmove backstep asidewalk backback outback offpull backdraw backfall backstep instep forwardback downstep tostep outstand asideset backstay backstep overturn backgo backwardstake a back seatkeep backlook backwalk back the catstand downin stepturn one's backpush backon the back footpull awaygo back onrear backstep onsit backtwo steps aheadwalk away fromdrop backretrace one's stepswalk awayrow backdraw awayback intotake backstep upmove away