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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drop back
Past winners Will Power and Josef Newgarden moved into the top two positions after Rosenqvist pitted, but the Swede regained the lead when Newgarden pitted for the first time on Lap 37 and dropped back to 14th.
—
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
If the opposing quarterback drops back to pass, Downs can be effective, as well.
—Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
When the Nissan dropped back, Mulligan signalled once more.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Many of Joseph’s current defensive principles — disguising blitzers indistinguishably from players dropping back into coverage — are similar to what Cincinnati did a decade ago, under defensive coordinator Guenther.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
If the opposing quarterback drops back to pass, Downs can be effective, as well.
—Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
When the Nissan dropped back, Mulligan signalled once more.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Many of Joseph’s current defensive principles — disguising blitzers indistinguishably from players dropping back into coverage — are similar to what Cincinnati did a decade ago, under defensive coordinator Guenther.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drop back
Verb
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For 2026, you are allowed to withdraw up to $20,000 for allowable educational expenses.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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The War Powers Resolution of 1973 lays out a timeline for when lawmakers must be notified of hostilities and when a president is required to withdraw American forces from a conflict in the absence of congressional authorization.—
May 1,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Coe reportedly was hospitalized several years ago with Covid-19 and had mostly retreated from public appearances since then, though it is not known whether Covid played a part in his passing.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
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Or, retreat to peaceful Bluffside Gardens with ultramodern cabins that offer direct trail access.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities typically publish airspace warning notices called NOTAMs advising pilots to steer clear of a rocket’s flight path and downrange drop zones where spent booster rockets fall back to Earth.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
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The price of the international benchmark for oil, Brent crude, rose to more than $126 a barrel at one point overnight — the highest since 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine — before falling back to around $114 a barrel early Thursday.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police said firefighters pulled out a man who had burns on his body.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Delta and United Airlines pulled out in 2017 amid a political crisis that forced millions to flee the country.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mary Brown retired after coaching boys and girls volleyball in the district for 19 years, including the past eight years with the Knights’ boys team.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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But, after the couple retired and migrated south to Mexico City, Hurst dove back into photography with gusto, until his death, from cancer, in 2023.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drop back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drop%20back. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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