turning back
Heading the other way
Turning back is reversing direction to return the way you came, whether literally or figuratively.
Someone who turns back abandons a journey or course of action: We turned back when the trail got too steep, There's no turning back now.
To turn back the clock is to attempt to restore earlier conditions, usually futilely.
Act of taking away
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- pullbackWithdrawal or reduction
- backtrackingReversing to find alternatives
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
disengagement · recoil · evacuation · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · about-face · reversal · retracing steps
Returning to one's origin
- retracingFollowing a route again
- revisitingGoing back again
- homewardToward one's dwelling
- reunionGathering after separation
roots · ancestral · reentry · coming full circle · boomerang · round trip · backtrack · retrace steps
Guilt for wrongdoing
- second thoughtsDoubts after deciding
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- doubtLack of firm belief
ruefulness · wistfulness · reconsideration · rethinking · change of heart · wavering · uncertainty · qualms
Cease resistance, yield
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
- concessionYielding a point
- yieldingBending under pressure
- giving upChoosing to stop trying
abandonment · loss · succumbing · failing · collapse · routing · overwhelming · vanquishing
Delay from uncertainty
- warinessCautious distrust
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- pausingStopping briefly mid-action
thinking twice · circumspection · vigilance · carefulness · forethought · discretion · deliberation · tentativeness
Prevention via threatened consequences
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- stoppingCeasing to continue
- barringExcluding from consideration
- haltingMarked by hesitation
repelling · warding off · denial · rejection · obstruction · impediment · barrier · rebuffing
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- pullbackWithdrawal or reduction
- backtrackingReversing to find alternatives
retreat · disengagement · recoil · evacuation · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · about-face · reversal · retracing steps · backing off
homecoming
Returning to one's origin
- retracingFollowing a route again
- revisitingGoing back again
- homewardToward one's dwelling
reunion · roots · ancestral · reentry · coming full circle · boomerang · round trip · backtrack · retrace steps · journey home
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- second thoughtsDoubts after deciding
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
doubt · ruefulness · wistfulness · reconsideration · rethinking · change of heart · wavering · uncertainty · qualms · reservations
surrender
Cease resistance, yield
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
- concessionYielding a point
- yieldingBending under pressure
giving up · abandonment · loss · succumbing · failing · collapse · routing · overwhelming · vanquishing · subduing
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- warinessCautious distrust
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
thinking twice · pausing · circumspection · vigilance · carefulness · forethought · discretion · deliberation · tentativeness · watchfulness
deterrence
Prevention via threatened consequences
halting · repelling · warding off · denial · rejection · obstruction · impediment · barrier · rebuffing · border control
- brush-offsbrush off, brush-off, cold shoulder, ignore, snub
- backtrackingretreat, retracing steps, undoing, rewinding, retraction
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- JonahJonah, whale, Nineveh, swallowed, three days
- repudiatingrenouncing, disclaiming, rejecting, disavowing, disowning
turning backmoving forward
Continuing toward a goal
going forward · advancing · proceeding · forging ahead · pressing on
turning backpersevering
Maintaining effort despite difficulty
pushing through · persisting · soldiering on · doubling down · following through
turning backmoving on
Proceeding past something
looking ahead · starting fresh · turning the page · breaking new ground · embarking
back, turn, return, turning, turned, returned, returns, turns, overturn