as in retreating
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 falling back
Despite a calamitous financial outlook, its share price has shown resiliency — soaring to an all-time high of almost $500 last month before falling back to around $422 this morning after the Q4 reveal.
—
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Grande has previously shared her desire to return to theater after falling back in love with acting through the filming of Wicked.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
Be brave, and resist falling back on English Don’t fear being laughed at or scolded for speaking imperfectly, said Massimo Macchiavello, the marketing manager for Posta, a destination management company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Daily high temperatures will gradually increase early in the week before falling back to near freezing by the weekend.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
Here are some tips for falling back in love with books.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026
The 73-year-old former professional boxer and film star was served an eviction notice last month, People reported, after allegedly falling back on his rent to the tune of $59,100.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2023, federal lawmakers introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a proposal to make daylight saving time permanent, meaning no more springing forward or falling back.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
For example, Comet Halley barely crosses the orbit of Neptune before falling back into the inner solar system.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 29 Jan. 2026
Grande has previously shared her desire to return to theater after falling back in love with acting through the filming of Wicked.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2026
Be brave, and resist falling back on English Don’t fear being laughed at or scolded for speaking imperfectly, said Massimo Macchiavello, the marketing manager for Posta, a destination management company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Daily high temperatures will gradually increase early in the week before falling back to near freezing by the weekend.
—Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
Here are some tips for falling back in love with books.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Jan. 2026
The 73-year-old former professional boxer and film star was served an eviction notice last month, People reported, after allegedly falling back on his rent to the tune of $59,100.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2023, federal lawmakers introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a proposal to make daylight saving time permanent, meaning no more springing forward or falling back.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
For example, Comet Halley barely crosses the orbit of Neptune before falling back into the inner solar system.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falling back
Verb
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Dinner usually means a lively table at Sweet Basil or Mountain Standard before retreating back to the hotel for a nightcap and a hot tub soak.—
Bailey Berg,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
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Software stocks led the latest downdraft, with the S & P 500 software index sliding 5% Thursday and retreating for a seventh straight day, helping push the entire S & P 500 lower for a third day.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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India agreed to draw down its purchases, thereby withdrawing a critical financial lifeline for Russia amid its war against Ukraine.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
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Investigators said Neves-Valente was a former Brown University student who attended the Ivy League school from 2000 to 2001 as part of a PhD program in physics before formally withdrawing in the fall of 2003.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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More than half of what scientists are pulling out of that frozen ground has never been cataloged.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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Fans of Harry Styles are pulling out all the stops — and even some blood — in an effort to afford tickets for his upcoming world tour.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sunday will bring a lot of sunshine, but the temperature will reach only about 17 degrees before dropping back into the single digits Sunday night.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
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Gold’s price rallied near $5,600 per ounce in the morning before suddenly and briefly dropping back below $5,200.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a nation backing away from previous diversity commitments, there is little societal pressure for NFL owners to be better.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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At least six city councilors, Culpepper, Ed Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell, swiftly issued statements or wrote to Wu administration officials expressing concern about backing away from prior commitments made to the majority-Black and brown community.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On the supply side, Baby Boomers are aging and retiring, population growth has slowed, and there’s been a sharp reduction in immigration and an increase in deportations.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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These include retiring the legacy B-1 and B-2 bombers only after sufficient B-21 aircraft are operational, and accelerating the procurement of existing fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 and the F-15EX, as well as autonomous collaborative combat drones.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Falling back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falling%20back. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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