отступа́ть

uncommon #5202C2

verbimperfective perfective is отступи́ть

1.
to retreat, to fall back, to withdrawmilitary
Войска́ отступа́ли к реке́.
The troops were retreating towards the river.
Often of troops; also figuratively of giving ground to an opponent.
2.
to step back, to move back, to recede
Мо́ре ме́дленно отступа́ло.
The sea was slowly receding.
Of a person taking a step back or of water/a boundary receding.
3.
to deviate (from), to depart (from), to stray (from)
Не отступа́й от те́мы бесе́ды.
Don't stray from the topic of the conversation.
With от + genitive: from a topic, a rule, one's principles.

Examples

Враг, ретирующийся под натиском, отступал в панике.
The enemy, retreating under pressure, withdrew in panic.
Солдаты вермахта отступали зимой.
The Wehrmacht soldiers retreated in winter.
Генера́л отдал прика́з отступа́ть.
The general gave the order to retreat.
Изморивший рабочих зной не отступал весь день.
The heat that exhausted the workers did not let up all day.
Громимый со всех сторон полк начал отступать.
The regiment, being attacked from all sides, began to retreat.
Предводитель отряда отдал приказ немедленно отступать.
The leader of the detachment ordered an immediate retreat.
Отряд, обороняющий город, не отступал ни на шаг.
The unit defending the city did not retreat a single step.
Жара, истощавшая всех, не отступала.
The heat that was exhausting everyone did not let up.

Imperative
ты	отступа́й
вы	отступа́йте

Active present	отступа́ющий	retreating, receding, withdrawing
Active past	отступа́вший	retreating, having retreated, that retreated, fallen back
Passive present	-
Passive past	-
Gerund present	отступа́я	while doing (present)
Gerund past	отступав отступавши	while doing (past)