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
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
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart drops back to pass during the second half.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins drops back in the second quarter during the NFL 2025 game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
However, Gentz continued, if one assumed About You had been part of the Zalando group last year as well, then 2025 guidance for revenue growth drops back to between 4 percent and 7 percent over the full year.
—Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 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
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart drops back to pass during the second half.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins drops back in the second quarter during the NFL 2025 game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
However, Gentz continued, if one assumed About You had been part of the Zalando group last year as well, then 2025 guidance for revenue growth drops back to between 4 percent and 7 percent over the full year.
—Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drops back
Verb
-
If the Pentagon withdraws support, the Scouts would have to scramble to replace medical care, transportation and other emergency services.—
Graham Smith,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Antonio Delgado withdraws from New York governor race after Mamdani backs Hochul.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Totality ends and the umbra gradually retreats across the lunar surface.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Published in 1842, Poe’s story follows Prince Prospero, who retreats with a group of nobles into a fortified abbey as a deadly plague ravages the countryside.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the process of watering the seed in, some of the loose soil dredged up by the disks falls back into the slits, covering the seed.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
19 Feb. 2026
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The top-three picks have been determined, and the task falls back to the readers to decide which will take the title in each of 50 categories, from burgers and wings to driveworthy things.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The officer in the black beanie backs away with his gun drawn, though pointed down.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Lessentine leads off the inning hitting two Bruins in a row, but the Aggies defense retires three straight.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
22 Feb. 2026
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Everyone shakes hands when a match ends and then retires to the bar, where the winners are supposed to buy the losers a beer.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drops back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drops%20back. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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