stepped back towards vs returned to the man

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'Stepped back towards' implies a physical movement away and then back to the man, while 'returned to the man' simply means going back to the man without necessarily implying a physical movement away first.

Last updated: March 11, 2024 • 685 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a physical movement away from a point and then back towards it.

"stepped back towards"

This phrase is used to describe physically moving away from a point and then moving back towards it.

Examples:

He stepped back towards the door to get a better look at the painting.
She stepped back towards the edge of the cliff, feeling a sense of vertigo.
The cat stepped back towards its owner after being startled by a loud noise.

Show examples from the web [+]

When I stepped back to shut the hatch, I noted a strong smell that reminded me of a wet dog, but when I stepped back towards the car, just a foot or so, it was ...
Jan 23, 2015 ... ... the second time in her career, Jennifer Aniston has stepped back towards the dark indie genre like she did back in 2002 with “The Good Girl.
When, finally, the horses slowed and stopped, Bendix stepped back towards Sixes as he descended from his seat. They walked to the rear of the cart, where ...
Oct 31, 2014 ... Simultaneously, Hattori, stepped back towards the house, saying "We're here for the party." Haymaker, seeing the weapon, shouted after ...

Alternatives:

moved back towards
walked back towards
retreated towards
backtracked towards
retraced his steps towards

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate going back to a specific person or place.

"returned to the man "

This phrase is used to describe going back to a specific person or place without necessarily implying a physical movement away first.

Examples:

After getting lost in the forest, she returned to the man who had given her directions.
He left the room briefly but then returned to the man waiting for him.
The dog ran off for a while but eventually returned to the man calling its name.

Show examples from the web [+]

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the ...
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the ...
After transporting him to the hospital, the firefighters returned to the man's driveway and shoveled the rest of it for him, according to a Facebook post by the ...
3 days ago ... After transporting him to the hospital, the firefighters returned to the man's driveway and shoveled the rest of it for him, according to a Facebook ...

Alternatives:

went back to the man
came back to the man
reverted to the man
went back towards the man
came back towards the man

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stepped back towards vs returned to the man