Cool MateBack away vs Withdraw
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Back away
Top 3,000 (common)
Withdraw
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Withdraw
| Back away | Withdraw | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bæk əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //bæk əˈweɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To move back from someone or something. | To take back or remove something. |
| Example | When the dog barked, she decided to back away quickly. | She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | back away slowly, back away quickly, back away from danger | altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into |
| Antonyms | - | deposit, add, contribute |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'step back'; 'back away' implies retreat due to fear., Using 'back away' without 'from' is incorrect., Overusing in formal contexts; better suited for casual situations. | Confused with 'wither' — remember, 'withdraw' is about taking away., Using 'withdraw' with an incorrect subject; you withdraw something, not 'withdraws'., 'Withdrew' is the past tense, but learners often forget the 'd'. |
| Usage notes | Usually used when talking about physically moving away. Informal contexts may imply fear or avoidance. | Use 'withdraw' when you want to say you are taking something away or not participating anymore. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts, like withdrawing money from a bank or withdrawing from a competition. |
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Frequently asked questions: Back away vs Withdraw
What's the difference between Back away and Withdraw?
Back away: To move back from someone or something. Withdraw: To take back or remove something.
Which is more common: Back away and Withdraw?
Withdraw is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Back away: When the dog barked, she decided to back away quickly. Withdraw: She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank.
Can I use Back away and Withdraw interchangeably?
Not always. Back away and Withdraw are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.