drop back
verb
dropped back; dropping back; drops back
1
: retreat
2
: to move straight back from the line of scrimmage
the quarterback drops back to pass
Synonyms
Examples of drop back in a Sentence
a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back
Recent Examples on the Web
Quarterback Payton Thorne dropped back to throw on 12 of Auburn’s first 15 plays.
—
Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 17 Sep. 2023
Late in the third quarter, Weber quarterback Kylan Weisser dropped back on a run/pass option and threw to a wideout in the flat.
—Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Purdue quarterback Hudson Card dropped back on a third-and-2 in the first quarter and threw a pass in Burks' direction.
—Chantz Martin, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2023
Then, two players later, Mordecai dropped back and threw an interception straight to Devin Grant.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
Milford Mill quarterback Deshawn Purdie dropped back on a third-and-6 at his own 44-yard line and fired the ball down the sideline, but it was intercepted by Oakdale’s Brayden DeWaal, who returned it 59 yards for a 7-0 lead with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023
With just over 2:40 left to play, Noland dropped back, reversed course to his right, broke out of a tackle and scrambled back to his left and found a receiver 20 yards downfield.
—Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2023
Also, guys like Jamal Hill coming down into the room now, coming from safety as well, Matayo, a guy that can do a lot of things, also drop back into coverage and do a good job rushing the passer.
—oregonlive, 21 July 2023
Hurricane Lee intensified into a Category 5 hurricane Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean before dropping back down to a Category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said Friday morning.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 17 Sep. 2023
Late in the third quarter, Weber quarterback Kylan Weisser dropped back on a run/pass option and threw to a wideout in the flat.
—Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Purdue quarterback Hudson Card dropped back on a third-and-2 in the first quarter and threw a pass in Burks' direction.
—Chantz Martin, Fox News, 2 Sep. 2023
Then, two players later, Mordecai dropped back and threw an interception straight to Devin Grant.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
Milford Mill quarterback Deshawn Purdie dropped back on a third-and-6 at his own 44-yard line and fired the ball down the sideline, but it was intercepted by Oakdale’s Brayden DeWaal, who returned it 59 yards for a 7-0 lead with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023
With just over 2:40 left to play, Noland dropped back, reversed course to his right, broke out of a tackle and scrambled back to his left and found a receiver 20 yards downfield.
—Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2023
Also, guys like Jamal Hill coming down into the room now, coming from safety as well, Matayo, a guy that can do a lot of things, also drop back into coverage and do a good job rushing the passer.
—oregonlive, 21 July 2023
Hurricane Lee intensified into a Category 5 hurricane Thursday in the Atlantic Ocean before dropping back down to a Category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said Friday morning.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drop back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near drop back
Cite this Entry
“Drop back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop%20back. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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