stepping away

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verb

   Moving a short distance away from where you are, often to give space or to avoid something.

   Grammar: Intransitive; often followed by from: stepping away from the edge.

   Patterns

   • step away from something
   • step away from someone

   He was stepping away from the hot stove when the pan slipped.

   The guard asked the crowd to keep stepping away from the barrier.

   She is stepping away from the microphone so someone else can talk.

2. 2phrasephrasal verbinformal

   Leaving a task or place for a short time, for example to take a break or answer a call.

   Grammar: Often used in messages: I am stepping away for lunch.

   Patterns

   • step away for something
   • step away from your desk

   I am stepping away from my desk for a few minutes.

   The doctor is stepping away to take an urgent call.

   Stepping away during a hard problem can help you solve it.

3. 3phrasephrasal verbfigurative

   Giving up a role, job or activity, usually in a planned and calm way.

   Grammar: Often figurative: stepping away from public life.

   Patterns

   • step away from something

   The founder is stepping away from daily management next year.

   Stepping away from social media improved her mood.

   He is stepping away from football to focus on his studies.

Word forms

Common combinations

stepping away from the desk

I am stepping away from the desk for ten minutes.

stepping away from social media

Stepping away from social media was good for her.

stepping away from the role

The chair is stepping away from the role in June.

stepping away for a moment

I am stepping away for a moment, back soon.

stepping away from the edge

Please keep stepping away from the edge.

Synonyms and how they differ

stepping back

Stepping back suggests gaining perspective or reducing involvement, while stepping away often means a clean break or short absence.

moving aside

Moving aside is mostly physical, to let others through.

taking a break

Taking a break is the plain way to say you pause work, but it does not indicate leaving the place.

withdrawing

Withdrawing is more formal and sounds firmer, as if retreating from a position.

Opposites

Word family

step noun

one movement of the foot

step back phrasal verb

to move back or take a wider view

step down phrasal verb

to resign from a post

stepped away phrasal verb

past form of step away

Commonly confused: stepping away or stepping down?

Practice

Make it your own

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

Explore more words