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
Philadelphia hasn’t clinched yet, but the division is out of reach after the Mets dropped back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park.
—
Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Denver’s late fourth-quarter play-call was the most obvious head-scratcher of any decision against the Titans, as Nix dropped back and fired off an incomplete go-ball to Marvin Mims on a fourth-and-eight with a minute left.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
Tagovailoa’s third turnover occurred on Miami’s first drive of the second half when a short pass over the middle of the field was intercepted by Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, who dropped back into coverage on Miami’s offense while a three Colts rushers came after Tagovailoa.
—Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Borralho dropped back to 185 pounds for his UFC debut in April 2011.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
There was a bizarre play in the first half when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart dropped back to pass then scrambled from the Giants’ 45-yard line to the Patriots’ 32-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Patriots.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
After a four-game winning streak, the Valkyries dropped back-to-back games to two of the league's elite squads, Atlanta and Phoenix.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Since then, chances have dropped back to a nearly 85% chance.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Denver’s late fourth-quarter play-call was the most obvious head-scratcher of any decision against the Titans, as Nix dropped back and fired off an incomplete go-ball to Marvin Mims on a fourth-and-eight with a minute left.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
Tagovailoa’s third turnover occurred on Miami’s first drive of the second half when a short pass over the middle of the field was intercepted by Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, who dropped back into coverage on Miami’s offense while a three Colts rushers came after Tagovailoa.
—Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Borralho dropped back to 185 pounds for his UFC debut in April 2011.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
There was a bizarre play in the first half when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart dropped back to pass then scrambled from the Giants’ 45-yard line to the Patriots’ 32-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Patriots.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
After a four-game winning streak, the Valkyries dropped back-to-back games to two of the league's elite squads, Atlanta and Phoenix.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Since then, chances have dropped back to a nearly 85% chance.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropped back
Verb
-
The shake-up came a week after the Ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas withdrew from the coalition in protest over the failure to pass legislation exempting Haredi men from military service.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Times/Siena poll suggested that if both Adams and Sliwa withdrew, Mamdani’s advantage over Cuomo could shrink even further.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One deputy retreated while two of them fired their guns, hitting Williams and Lane, authorities said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Each apartment was different from the next, and the vacant unit (one daughter retreated to a Greek island) had views of the sea.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jungwirth pulled out a gun, jumped over the counter and pointed the gun at the 38-year-old clerk.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
10 Sep. 2025
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Tanjiro Kamado and the other slayers are plummeting down endless stories after the ground was quite literally pulled out from under them in a cliffhanger at the end of season four.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By that time, Hartman had retired from the movie industry.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Sep. 2025
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But reliever Juan Mejia retired the next three hitters — a Laureano strikeout sandwiched between flyouts from Sheets and Merrill — to squash the first semblance of a rally.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And Bahrain and the UAE – the two Gulf Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel – have not backed away from their official relationship.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
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Once Kefalos backed away, her dog put herself under the bed and started running around again.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dropped back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dropped%20back. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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