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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Recent Examples of drops back
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
Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on November 16, 2025.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
With Leverkusen’s front players focused on stopping progression into Gravenberch, Jones drops back to receive from Alexander-Arnold.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High on November 16, 2025.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
With Leverkusen’s front players focused on stopping progression into Gravenberch, Jones drops back to receive from Alexander-Arnold.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drops back
Verb
-
Each retiree withdraws $50,000 per year.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Tax lien changes Fresh Start also introduced changes to how and when the IRS files and withdraws tax liens, and to the dollar amounts that trigger the issuance of a lien.—
Deane Biermeier,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After losing her job and her boyfriend, Jamie retreats to her small hometown in Texas, where her friends and memories of a fateful summer in high school turn her life upside down.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The unconscious Moon retreats through your 12th House of Peace, trining take-charge Saturn in your 4th House of Care along the way.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The trajectory The mission is on a flight path that keeps the spacecraft in Earth's gravitational influence past the moon, then falls back to the planet for splashdown.—
Brendan Byrne,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Really, even if tracking is massively off, and Project Hail Mary falls back to a $50M opening in North America, va bene.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jones then slows down to a walk as Prignano backs away.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In instances when an agent approaches, a patroller typically backs away while recording the interaction, video footage posted to Union del Barrio’s YouTube page shows.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Or at least a crossroads, with numerous immediate needs and plenty others that have to be reconciled sooner than later as more contracts come to an end and Travis Kelce likely retires after this season.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Without it, Tillis could keep Warsh in limbo until the senator retires from Congress in January.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drops back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drops%20back. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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