as in withdrawn
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fallen back
The city’s vacancy rate has fallen back to pre-pandemic levels, and new housing construction is at its weakest pace in a decade, the report added.
—
Nino Paoli, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
The Utes have fallen back from their original jump now that their UCLA win isn’t valuable anymore.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
By July, sentiment had recovered, and stock market volatility (the VIX) had fallen back well below the 5-year and 10-year averages.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But as the 21-year-old surges, another Red Sox outfielder has fallen back into a brutal slump.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Nino Paoli, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
The Utes have fallen back from their original jump now that their UCLA win isn’t valuable anymore.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
By July, sentiment had recovered, and stock market volatility (the VIX) had fallen back well below the 5-year and 10-year averages.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But as the 21-year-old surges, another Red Sox outfielder has fallen back into a brutal slump.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallen back
Verb
-
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has withdrawn from the Argentina squad to face Angola this month due to an ongoing knee injury.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Goudreau’s lawyer said the money had been withdrawn from his bank account and did not come from Venezuelans or others overseas.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Owens and her parents, KGO 810 radio legend Ronn Owens and former KCBS reporter Jan Black, moved to Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic, after Ronn Owens retired from KGO-810 after 46 years.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Christy officially retired from professional boxing in 2012.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Unsurprisngly, Meg White, who retreated from public life and hasn’t been heard from for over a decade, was a no-show.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
-
People retreated in fear that more would come.—
Kim Lane Scheppele,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Orange quarterback Rickie Collins dropped back and threw a deep pass intended for receiver Darius Johnson.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier dropped back to pass only to find Rodriguez in coverage.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 32-year-old allowed two more goals in the period before being pulled out of the game by Blues head coach Jim Montgomery for backup goalie Joel Hofer.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Trump quickly pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords, the World Health Organization, and the UN Human Rights Council, underscoring his commitment to isolationism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fallen back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallen%20back. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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