Definify.com

Definition 2024


step_back

step back

See also: stepback

English

Verb

step back (third-person singular simple present steps back, present participle stepping back, simple past and past participle stepped back)

  1. Used other than as an idiom: see step, back.
  2. (idiomatic) 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. (idiomatic) 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. (rail transport, of a driver at a terminal station) to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so as to decrease service turnaround time.

Noun

step back (plural steps back)

  1. (idiomatic) A reversion to a former state or situation.

See also

(rail transport): double-end, double-ending