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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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
The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drops back
Verb
-
Hezbollah's leader said Saturday the group would fight on until Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon, according to a statement carried in a pro-Hezbollah local media outlet.
-
But sporadic clashes have continued, and Hezbollah’s leader said Saturday that the group would continue fighting until Israel withdraws from Lebanon.
Verb
-
When Aries pushes harder, Cancer retreats further, and neither feels understood.
-
As natural gas output partially retreats, global seaborne coal shipments to the region have risen, even if China and India are insourcing more domestic coal.
Verb
-
Any good striker should be looking to pounce on a ball that falls back into the danger area, but the numbers suggest the rate of goals scored via rebounds looks particularly high compared with previous tournaments.
-
The endeavor calls for an untested spacecraft built by the Arizona company Katalyst Space Technologies to rendezvous and dock with Swift — something the observatory was never designed to do — before the observatory falls back to Earth.
Verb
-
For nearly two agonizing minutes, the bear runs toward her then backs away, rearing up on its hind legs several times, revealing its massive size.
-
The team does an organized shuffle to get things in order, and almost everyone watching with me backs away slightly.
Verb
-
Gibson retires the first two batters before giving up a single to Paul Goldschmidt, followed by the homer barrage.
-
Even if Dunker retires as a beloved Steeler, the rivers at that point will likely still be unswimmable after rainstorms.
Cite this Entry
“Drops back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drops%20back. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
