hang back

verb

hung back; hanging back; hangs back

intransitive verb

1
: to drag behind others
2
: to be reluctant

Examples of hang back in a Sentence

even though the young mother wanted the job, she still hung back because she wasn't sure if she should spend time away from her family
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During the nighttime partying, older revelers mostly hung back. María Magdalena Arréllaga, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 Finke again tried his signature move — hanging back before blitzing past the leaders in a mad dash to the final wall. Rick Maese, Washington Post, 31 July 2024 But many of those demonstrators have since hung back, owing to political exhaustion. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024 Hinrichs’ best memory so far was at a stop a couple of years ago when a family brought a disabled child but were hanging back from the train to avoid the tussle of the crowd. Chris Morris, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hang back 

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hang back was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near hang back

Cite this Entry

“Hang back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hang%20back. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

hang back

verb
1
: to linger behind others
hung back to wait for the slower children
2
: to be unwilling to do something : hesitate
always hangs back when everyone else is dancing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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