edge back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Move backward in small cautious steps
Why “back”? Back creates distance or reduces progress. The change can affect a place, position, amount, promise, or plan.
“She edged back from the cliff.”
“The driver edged back from the gate.”
Don't confuse with
Edge back means move backward in small cautious steps. Edge out means defeat someone by a very small margin or gradually push them out of a position.
Test yourself
“She edged back from the cliff.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
edge out
A contrast learners often mix up
Defeat someone by a very small margin or gradually replace them in a position
cut back
Same back pattern: distance
Reduce sharply, especially expenditure; Reduce the amount of something, especially spending
die back
Same back pattern: distance
(of a plant) lose leaves and branches above ground while the roots survive
draw back
Same back pattern: distance
Move yourself away in hesitation
drive back
Same back pattern: distance
Force an attacker to retreat
drop back
Same back pattern: distance
Move to a position further behind
fall back
Same back pattern: distance
Move backwards quickly, often in retreat; Use something as a backup when other options fail; Move into a position behind others
go back
Same back pattern: distance
Return to a place; (of a friendship or history) date from a particular time; Withdraw from a promise or agreement
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