as in withdrawn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
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Recent Examples of fallen back
The city has fallen back on multiple tax measures to draw more money, though spending cuts have also alleviated — for now — yearly deficits in the General Purpose Fund budget, which pays for most salaries and daily operations.
—
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
By the time the survivors reached the Great Plains, the Acme and Itala had fallen back, but the Shawmut and two Fords continued to trade leads.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The position has now fallen back below the 50-day moving average.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Without those moments, Arsenal have fallen back on set pieces and defending.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 27 May 2026
While Monday’s state average had fallen back slightly, AAA stated there are no signs of price rises slowing, with a 22-cent climb since last week.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
In early trading Monday morning, both indexes had fallen back slightly.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
For instance, the aluminum could have exploded out of the supernova, while the iron — coming from deeper in the star’s core — could have fallen back into the dead star.
—James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 2 Mar. 2026
Over the past year, McDonnell has fallen back on the message that the LAPD has a long-standing policy of not getting involved in civil immigration enforcement.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
By the time the survivors reached the Great Plains, the Acme and Itala had fallen back, but the Shawmut and two Fords continued to trade leads.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
The position has now fallen back below the 50-day moving average.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Without those moments, Arsenal have fallen back on set pieces and defending.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 27 May 2026
While Monday’s state average had fallen back slightly, AAA stated there are no signs of price rises slowing, with a 22-cent climb since last week.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
In early trading Monday morning, both indexes had fallen back slightly.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
For instance, the aluminum could have exploded out of the supernova, while the iron — coming from deeper in the star’s core — could have fallen back into the dead star.
—James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 2 Mar. 2026
Over the past year, McDonnell has fallen back on the message that the LAPD has a long-standing policy of not getting involved in civil immigration enforcement.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallen back
Verb
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It was originally filed on May 22, then withdrawn a week after on May 29.—
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
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Last week, Iran’s football federation announced that its entire ticket allocation had been withdrawn, leaving fans who had already made travel plans with nothing.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Big Oaks hosts about 6,000 deer, squirrel, and turkey hunters and anglers annually, with some 15,000 total visitors, including bird-watchers from around the world, according to former refuge manager Joe Robb, who retired last year.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
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After Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, CBS Evening News host Dan Rather enjoyed running the show as its sole anchor.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Oil prices retreated to around $80 a barrel on Friday, down from a peak of $118 in March when the war was at its height.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
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The officer retreated and fired several shots, killing the dog and injuring its owner, who was trying to secure the animal, police said.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Edge rusher Jalyx Hunt said cornerback Kelee Ringo shouted out a signal to him before the snap, and Hunt dropped back into coverage and snagged Dalton’s throw.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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The odds of the Clarity Act being passed this year have dropped back from almost 70% on the Polymarket prediction platform, falling to just over 50%.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The region in May pulled out of a funding agreement that had been more than a decade in the making, leaving the future of the I-77 toll expansion project uncertain.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
15 June 2026
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The officer followed inside and told Morales to leave, but Morales allegedly pulled out a folding knife and pointed it at the officer, according to police.—
Jose Fabian,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fallen back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallen%20back. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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