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

The index closed in overbought territory heading into the long weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, only to drop back below its 50-day moving average when the market reopened on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

Instead, Fletcher is set to discover whether he will remain within the first-team set-up or drop back to his substantive role with the Under-18 squad.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

I come off the block strong and low and by the time I'm straight up, my stride is steady, but I always allow myself to drop back a little.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds

drop back

Example Sentences

Related Words