as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back
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Recent Examples of drop back
The Golden State Warriors just dropped back-to-back games to the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
No quarterback in the NFL has dropped back more times in the past two seasons than Nix.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles will drop back to the 70s on Monday after hitting 90 degrees Sunday.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, Chicago will be just north of the warm front, Doom said, so temperatures in the city will drop back into the 50s.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
No quarterback in the NFL has dropped back more times in the past two seasons than Nix.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles will drop back to the 70s on Monday after hitting 90 degrees Sunday.
—Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, Chicago will be just north of the warm front, Doom said, so temperatures in the city will drop back into the 50s.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drop back
Verb
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The annexation petition was withdrawn because of a resolution Castle Pines City Council will consider Tuesday to develop an annexation policy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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However, five of the players withdrew their asylum claims, while two members stayed in Australia, according to media reports.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chinese companies aren’t retreating from the Arabian Gulf despite turmoil in the region, according to one of the world’s top management consultants.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
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As explained by the bank earlier in the week, its commodities strategists expect Brent crude to average $105 in March, spike to $115 in April, and then gradually retreat to $80 in the fourth quarter, assuming flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain severely disrupted for roughly six weeks.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Springing forward and falling back may be a thing of the past for Georgia if an unusual attempt to keep the state in daylight saving time all year round.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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While Monday’s state average had fallen back slightly, AAA stated there are no signs of price rises slowing, with a 22-cent climb since last week.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chinese sources previously indicated to CNN the war could still further impact talks, or result in either side pulling out altogether, with China considering Chinese casualties or damage to Chinese assets as potential red lines.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Besides causing building foundations to crack and roadways to heave, the expansion and contraction can cause pipes to disconnect, and the pipe couplings that an Atmos predecessor installed are not resistant to pulling out, the board found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Indonesia was already struggling to meet targets to retire coal plants early, with financing delays even before the Iran war.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
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As his mentors retired and left political office, Rubio promised to toe the line.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drop back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drop%20back. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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