as in withdrawing
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of dropping back
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola makes moving between the two seamless, linking the mountains at high elevation so skiers can switch terrain without dropping back to the village.
—
Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
Some backups go through every tiny detail of the pre and at-snap routine, even dropping back with a ball in their hand but stopping short of throwing it.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
As moisture increases later this week, a cooling trend will commence with temperatures dropping back into the normal range by Friday.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Six of them could be rushing, or those same six could be dropping back into coverage.
—Omar Kelly
august 5, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
Some backups go through every tiny detail of the pre and at-snap routine, even dropping back with a ball in their hand but stopping short of throwing it.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
As moisture increases later this week, a cooling trend will commence with temperatures dropping back into the normal range by Friday.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Six of them could be rushing, or those same six could be dropping back into coverage.
—Omar Kelly
august 5, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropping back
Verb
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But again, no school can prevent a player from withdrawing and enrolling elsewhere.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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With his previous attorney withdrawing from the case, arraignment was postponed Wednesday for Rob Reiner’s youngest son, who is charged with murdering the famed filmmaker and his photographer wife Michele in their Brentwood home.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Here are some tips for falling back in love with books.—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
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The 73-year-old former professional boxer and film star was served an eviction notice last month, People reported, after allegedly falling back on his rent to the tune of $59,100.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This usually requires pulling out any hair that gets trapped between the bristles.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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Georgia is either extremely fortunate or extremely tough — possibly both — to keep pulling out these close Ws.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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If lions are spotted, make noise to scare them from the area, hold objects overhead to appear bigger and start backing away from the animal.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
2 Jan. 2026
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After backing away from the giant mammal, the influencer then moves closer again, jumping back once more when the elephant attempts to grab him with its trunk.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The reigning world champion returned to competitive skating last season with a bang after retiring following the 2022 Beijing Olympics.—
Lillian Karabaic,
NPR,
9 Jan. 2026
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The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dropping back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dropping%20back. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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