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
Examples of drop back in a Sentence
a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back
Recent Examples on the Web
The cryptocurrency rose above $96,000 late last week but has dropped back to around $89,700.
—
Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
On first-and-10 from the Indiana 41 with 51 seconds left, Beck dropped back and looked deep for Keelan Marion, but Jamari Sharpe raced across the field and picked off the pass.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2026
On Sunday, Maye dropped back again near the same midfield spot.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
But on 3rd and 2, Houston dropped back to pass and Marcus Jones continued his huge game by breaking up a pass intended for Christian Kirk.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
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Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
On first-and-10 from the Indiana 41 with 51 seconds left, Beck dropped back and looked deep for Keelan Marion, but Jamari Sharpe raced across the field and picked off the pass.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2026
On Sunday, Maye dropped back again near the same midfield spot.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
But on 3rd and 2, Houston dropped back to pass and Marcus Jones continued his huge game by breaking up a pass intended for Christian Kirk.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Cite this Entry
“Drop back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop%20back. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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