DROPS BACK Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

drops back

verb

present tense third-person singular of drop back

as in withdraws

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 drops back Szoboszlai has much better access to Yoane Wissa in the space that opens up as Gravenberch pushes forward and Wirtz drops back to cover (no doubt after a half-time reminder about the importance of covering the space). — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 After the front, the humidity drops back off the scale, meaning that Thursday and Friday will be very comfy and dry. — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 18 May 2026 If the opposing quarterback drops back to pass, Downs can be effective, as well. — Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 Too flat and your head drops back; too thick and your chin juts forward. — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026 If your head drops back or your chin pushes forward, the pillow height is wrong. — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026 Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. — Lillian Rizzo,ryan Ruggiero, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026 Temperatures are likely to remain warm during the day, though forecasts show possible snow showers early Thursday night as the low drops back below freezing to the upper 20s. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 The 54-year-old comedian with a beard full of gray stubble drops back to pass, launching a tight spiral underneath SoFi’s massive technicolor halo scoreboard hovering above a sea of empty stands. — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drops back

Verb

An Indian institution that’s built its operations around a foreign foundation model has no real recourse if that vendor raises prices, withdraws the model, hits new export restrictions or gets caught in a geopolitical dispute over chip access.

— Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The background of the film is the budget slashes that are happening in this sector all over the Western world, as the government withdraws its own form of care.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of withdraws

Verb

The front retreats to the north, but chances of rain stick around into early Friday as the shortwave (small disturbance) pushes out of the area.

— Michael Autovino, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Havelock neither retreats to the closet nor holds out hope for resolution via vigilante justice.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreats

Verb

Sometimes a player experiences a season in the sun and falls back to Earth, as Matt Kemp and Jacoby Ellsbury did in 2011.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
His footage reveals the movement of plasma within the loops, including 'coronal rain' as material cools and falls back towards the lower solar atmosphere along magnetic field lines.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of falls back

Verb

It is headed straight toward another SUV, driven by a medic for CHOP security, who immediately throws it in reverse and backs away to avoid the white Jeep, which is coming at it head on.

— Sydney Brownstone, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
As the boy backs away, the family's husky mix, Bella, is seen running over from across the yard and chasing the bear away, circling behind the animal and placing itself in between the bear and the boy.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Definition of backs away

Verb

Fund debt paydown out of the same budget as new AI use cases so that every model that ships also retires a data-quality issue on its critical path.

— Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Supporting the Sentinel transition The Grey Wolf will also help as the Air Force brings in the LGM-35A Sentinel and retires the Minuteman III facilities.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026