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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Recent Examples of fall back
If the war ends quickly, or if there is an extended ceasefire that opens the Strait of Hormuz, the price of crude oil could rapidly fall back, and that would drive down gas prices.
—
Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Energy prices fall back but remain high The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
Skies will be mostly clear overnight, with temperatures falling back into the upper 40s.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
And many middle-aged adults were already enrolled in the lowest-cost plans available, which leaves them without cheaper options to fall back on, said Matt McGough, a policy analyst with KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
—Sam Whitehead, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Energy prices fall back but remain high The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
Skies will be mostly clear overnight, with temperatures falling back into the upper 40s.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
And many middle-aged adults were already enrolled in the lowest-cost plans available, which leaves them without cheaper options to fall back on, said Matt McGough, a policy analyst with KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
—Sam Whitehead, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall back
Verb
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In the face of growing opposition generated in part by allegations of his misconduct, Gaetz withdrew.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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Each retiree withdraws $50,000 per year.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The challenge is not to retreat from circulation, but to insist that circulation be thought through, grounded in specific places and their conditions, and accountable, open to friction, contamination, and transformation rather than insulated coherence.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The neighborhood/area Upscale with large avenues, grand villas, and plenty of greenery, Parioli’s the perfect place to retreat to after a day’s sightseeing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Saturday's temperatures drop back into the 30s, with a high of 38 in the metro and 32 in northern Minnesota.—
April 4,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The Longhorns are the one team in the Final Four that has had a two-game losing streak, dropping back-to-back games to LSU and South Carolina in mid-January.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sources said the man was arguing with his killer when the gunman pulled out a weapon and fired two shots.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Green was on the back of the vehicle, pulled out a gun and fired it multiple times toward a group that included several children, police said.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But with Graves set to retire and not seek reelection, Kansas City stands on the brink of losing a seat at one of the most important tables in Congress.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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Jose Franco retired five batters before leaving with two on.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fall back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20back. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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