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Definitions

drop back

VERB
hang back
Synonyms
WEAK
drop behind hang fire hang off hold back hold off hover lag behind pause procrastinate shrink back shy away stay back stick straggle trail
Antonyms
WEAK
forge ahead
VERB
trail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chase fall behind falter lag pull
STRONG
dally dangle dawdle delay dog drag draggle draw droop extend flag halt hang haul hunt linger loiter plod poke procrastinate pursue shadow shag spook spoor stalk straggle stream tail tarry tow trace track traipse trudge
WEAK
bedog bring up the rear fall back follow a scent hang back hang down nose out poke along string along tag along take out after
Antonyms
STRONG
advance carry on complete finish forward go hasten hurry ignore leave leave alone let go push rise run away rush shorten speed stop tiptoe
WEAK
lead

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A doji candle on Dec. 5 caused the fund to quickly drop back underneath its 200 day simple moving average.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

In their projections, almost all officials anticipated underlying inflation to be firmer than previously anticipated this year but to drop back over the next two years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

In early December, the S&P 500 closed 1.5 standard deviations above its 50-day moving average, only to drop back below it less than one week later.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

“We made a little call, I had to drop back the coverage and I was just shocked the ball was coming my way,” Hand said after the first interception of his eight-year career.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

I drop back to our ledge, to find Alice balled up like a little caterpillar and sound asleep.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George