step away

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verb

   To move a short distance away from a person or place by taking a step or steps.

   Grammar: No object; usually followed by from: step away from the door.

   Patterns

   • step away from someone
   • step away from something

   Please step away from the platform edge while the train arrives.

   She stepped away from the stove when the oil began to spit.

   The guard asked everyone to step away from the display case.

2. 2verbphrasal verbfigurative

   To stop being involved in something for a time or permanently, especially to rest or gain perspective.

   Grammar: Often figurative and followed by from: step away from your work.

   Patterns

   • step away from something

   I need to step away from my desk for a few minutes.

   He stepped away from politics to spend more time with his family.

   Sometimes it helps to step away from a problem and come back fresh.

Word forms

Common combinations

step away from the edge

Step away from the edge of the cliff, please.

step away from the computer

Try to step away from the computer every hour.

step away for a moment

May I step away for a moment to take this call?

step away from the project

She decided to step away from the project after the merger.

step away from the vehicle

The officer told him to step away from the vehicle.

Synonyms and how they differ

back off

Back off is more forceful and can mean to stop interfering, while step away may be calm and polite.

withdraw

Withdraw is more formal and suggests leaving a role or position, not just stepping aside.

move aside

Move aside focuses on clearing a path, while step away focuses on increasing distance.

Opposites

Word family

step noun

a single movement of the foot

step back phrasal verb

to move backward or gain distance

step aside phrasal verb

to move out of the way or give up a position

stepping noun

the action of taking steps

Commonly confused: step away or step down?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “step away”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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