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
Snow chances are back in the forecast by Friday, when temperatures will drop back down to the mid-30s in Milwaukee.
—
Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Avoiding the drop back to the Championship was the job he was appointed to do.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
On third down, Maye dropped back to pass, felt pressure and scrambled up the middle for 16 yards.
—February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Late in the third quarter, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye dropped back to pass, looking for answers.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
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Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Avoiding the drop back to the Championship was the job he was appointed to do.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
On third down, Maye dropped back to pass, felt pressure and scrambled up the middle for 16 yards.
—February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Late in the third quarter, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye dropped back to pass, looking for answers.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 9 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 2026.
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