DROPPING BACK Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

dropping back

verb

present participle of drop back

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dropping back The Dream fell to the Seattle Storm 105-90 on Saturday after dropping back-to-back games to the Golden State Valkyries — 77-66 on June 24 and 78-75 on June 26. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The Griz constantly pumps the rod to get his bait darting forward and then dropping back. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2026 Attempts to do so led to Martinez’s side often dropping back and playing quick passes to wingers making runs in behind. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 18 June 2026 The descent comes by bicycle, dropping back through emerald rice terraces and village lanes as the island wakes up around you. — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 23 May 2026 When opening an app, the CPU would spike to 96% before dropping back to more pedestrian 17% usage after a couple of seconds. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026 The Padres won the final two games in San Francisco to win the series, their first after dropping back-to-back series to the Cubs and White Sox. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 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 The Longhorns are the one team in the Final Four that has had a two-game losing streak, dropping back-to-back games to LSU and South Carolina in mid-January. — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropping back

Verb

Serena Williams is withdrawing from Wimbledon doubles competition after injuring her knee at the tournament earlier this week.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 July 2026
In an interview with The Sacramento Bee Wednesday, the labor leader behind Proposition 40 accused Newsom of failing to propose any alternative ahead of the June 25 deadline for withdrawing ballot measures.

— Ben Paviour July 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

Now, the murder rate is falling back in line with other crime trends, many of which are also among the lowest ever recorded.

— James Tuttle, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
But now Swift is falling back to Earth on a trajectory at an increasing rate and will burn up in our atmosphere soon, if nothing is done.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of falling back

Verb

Kramer agreed, crediting facility partners at Sporting Kansas City, the KC Current, the University of Kansas and the $20-million Swope Soccer Village for pulling out the stops to attract the world’s best teams.

— Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
An unidentified man wearing blue basketball shorts and a Knicks hat was spotted in a video obtained by ABC News getting down on one knee, pulling out a red box and holding up a ring.

— Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 18 June 2026

Definition of pulling out

Verb

According to the report, Sheets' girlfriend pleaded with him while backing away and heard one gunshot.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 July 2026
As the officers ask Marseille to put the dog away, bodycam video shows the second officer unholstering his gun and backing away from the barking dog.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of backing away

Verb

Fricker went on to star in another ITV drama Seekers, 1994 sports comedy Angels in the Outfield, 1997’s Masterminds, and 2011’s Albert Nobbs, before retiring from big-screen roles in 2015.

— Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
The three-time Pro Bowl running back racked up 9,651 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career, before retiring in 2017.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026