drop back
verb
dropped back; dropping back; drops back
1
: retreat
2
: to move straight back from the line of scrimmage
the quarterback drops back to pass
Examples of drop back in a Sentence
a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back
Recent Examples on the Web
Geno Smith dropped back to pass on the first play of the game, with the Las Vegas Raiders facing a first-and-10 at their own 24-yard line.
—
Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Temperatures may drop back down to more seasonal cool fall weather heading into the next weekend, NWS forecasts, as highs drop off significantly to the upper 60s Saturday and Sunday.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Some backups go through every tiny detail of the pre and at-snap routine, even dropping back with a ball in their hand but stopping short of throwing it.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Denver’s late fourth-quarter play-call was the most obvious head-scratcher of any decision against the Titans, as Nix dropped back and fired off an incomplete go-ball to Marvin Mims on a fourth-and-eight with a minute left.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drop back
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Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Temperatures may drop back down to more seasonal cool fall weather heading into the next weekend, NWS forecasts, as highs drop off significantly to the upper 60s Saturday and Sunday.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Some backups go through every tiny detail of the pre and at-snap routine, even dropping back with a ball in their hand but stopping short of throwing it.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Denver’s late fourth-quarter play-call was the most obvious head-scratcher of any decision against the Titans, as Nix dropped back and fired off an incomplete go-ball to Marvin Mims on a fourth-and-eight with a minute left.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drop back
Cite this Entry
“Drop back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop%20back. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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