as in withdrew
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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Recent Examples of dropped back
And prices dropped back around the $2 mark soon after thanks to a higher production of broilers — or chickens raised for meat — in the latter half of the year.
—
Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 20 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
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped back to throw on 4th-and-short, but the Texans covered his primary target out of the backfield.
—Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Facing third-and-goal with just under three minutes remaining, Purdy dropped back, went through his first two progressions, stepped forward in the pocket and finally found McCaffrey streaking into the end zone ahead of linebacker Nakobe Dean.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 20 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
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped back to throw on 4th-and-short, but the Texans covered his primary target out of the backfield.
—Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
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
Facing third-and-goal with just under three minutes remaining, Purdy dropped back, went through his first two progressions, stepped forward in the pocket and finally found McCaffrey streaking into the end zone ahead of linebacker Nakobe Dean.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropped back
Verb
-
His son withdrew from high school.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Following the caller's instructions, the victim withdrew cash from her bank account and deposited it via several Bitcoin ATM transactions.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On her island home in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, the shoreline has visibly retreated within her short lifetime, with beaches eroded, coastal trees uprooted and some homes now barely 3 feet from the sea at high tide.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The real horror in Frankenstein was a brilliant man who unleashed power and retreated from accountability.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last week, Anthropic pulled out of a pending agreement with the Defense Department over stated concerns about how its technologies could be used for autonomous warfare and mass domestic surveillance.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
However, Liu has also pulled out of the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Warren Buffett retired last year, Dan Amos became the longest-serving CEO in the Fortune 250.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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In a previous estimate, the agency projected that a couple who retired just after insolvency would see a cut of $18,400 in annual benefits.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The decision comes as other global insurers have backed away from underwriting maritime trade activity in the Gulf amid concerns that vessels could become collateral damage in the Iran war.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Since the drawing of that second majority-black district, the state has backed away from that map, hoping to return to a plan that provides for only one majority-minority district.—
Zoe Sobel,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dropped back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dropped%20back. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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