Starting, Preventing, or Postponing (Back)

to stop oneself from openly expressing true feelings or thoughts

He managed to bite back his criticism and maintained a calm demeanor.

to stop oneself from expressing feelings

Sometimes, it's necessary to choke back your opinions for the sake of harmony.

to re-engage in an activity or situation after being away from it for some time

After a long break, he decided to get back into painting.

to contact someone again later to provide a response or reply, often after taking time to consider or research the matter

I'll get back to you with the information you requested as soon as I find it.

to resume or restart an activity that was previously interrupted or discontinued

He wants to go back to teaching after taking a break from his career.

to prevent someone or something from advancing or crossing a particular point

The soldiers held back the advancing enemy forces with determination.

to prevent a feeling, emotion, or reaction from being expressed or displayed

She couldn't keep back her tears when she heard the sad news.

to reschedule an appointment or event for a later time or date

Due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to put the meeting back to next week.

to cause a decline in the quality, strength, or advancement of something

A cyberattack can set back a company's advanced technological systems, compromising their security and functionality.