as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fall back
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are falling back to Earth, with up to four burning up in the atmosphere each day, according to space trackers.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Even if Showgirl falls back tonight and comes out in the high $20Ms (no one is expecting that number), so what?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2025
The Red Sox must believe so, even if a slight fall back to earth is to be expected from those otherworldly numbers.
—Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The whir of the white noise machine that helped my daughter fall back asleep.
—Aisha Muharrar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Even if Showgirl falls back tonight and comes out in the high $20Ms (no one is expecting that number), so what?
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2025
The Red Sox must believe so, even if a slight fall back to earth is to be expected from those otherworldly numbers.
—Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The whir of the white noise machine that helped my daughter fall back asleep.
—Aisha Muharrar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall back
Verb
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White’s legal team challenged it, and in late 2022 an appeals court ruled that the judge had erred in not letting White withdraw his guilty plea.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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In January, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger also withdrew from West African regional bloc Ecowas, having earlier formed their own Alliance of Sahel States grouping.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lady Annabel wore her privilege lightly, and in later years retreated to her home in Richmond, just outside London, enjoying her children, grandchildren and dogs away from the spotlight.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
18 Oct. 2025
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Following the release of his 1996 solo project Euphoria, Vincent retreated from public life.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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Wentz dropped back, planted his back foot and uncorked a missile.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the meantime, he has been forced to pull out of several upcoming events to focus on his recovery.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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Jeff Goldblum, Oscar Isaac, and Jacob Elordi pulled out different iterations of the Tank, while Paul Mescal gave us a blast from the horological past by rocking a vintage Gondole.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Delbarton publicly acknowledged in 2018 that at least 30 men had come forward with allegations that, over three decades, 13 past or current priests and monks at the school had victimized them — in addition to a lay faculty member who is now retired.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fall back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20back. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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