drop back

verb

dropped back; dropping back; drops back

intransitive verb

1

: retreat

2

: to move straight back from the line of scrimmage

the quarterback drops back to pass

Synonyms of drop back

• withdraw
• retreat
• fall back
• pull out
• retire

Examples of drop back in a Sentence

a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back

Recent Examples on the Web

Georgia won six of its first seven SEC matches but has dropped back-to-back matches to Texas A&M and Missouri. — Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026

During the second quarter of this year there were 14 immediate jeopardy findings, representing a spike, but in the third quarter the numbers dropped back down to eight. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026

Heavner dropped back before finding a hole up the middle for a 27-yard TD run before the Chippewas again took the lead 24-21 on Jadyn Glasser's 9-yard TD pass to Langston Lewis in the third quarter's final minute. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

The Crimson Tide are 5-2 for the season, dropping back-to-back games against Georgia and Tennessee. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drop back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback