Definition of "step back" in English

Verb

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see step,‎ back.

2. To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation.

   • Perhaps we should step back for a second and think about solving this problem a different way.

3. To prevent oneself from becoming emotionally involved in a certain situation.

   • As a therapist sometimes you have to step back from your clients' lives.

4. to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so as to decrease service turnaround time.

5. To retreat from one's duties in a job; to reduce one's duties, often as a prelude to leaving a position; to take a back seat.

   • He's stepping back from the role to let you start in it.

6. To quietly abandon a belief.

   • You need to step back from the threat you made.

Noun

1. A setback, downgrade, or deterioration.

   • Switching to more frequent meetings was a step back for that team, which had too many meetings already.

2. A reversion to a former state or situation.