fall back

British  

verb

1. to recede or retreat

2. to have recourse (to)

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noun

1. a retreat

2. a reserve, esp money, that can be called upon in need

3. 1. anything to which one can have recourse as a second choice

   2. ( as modifier )

      a fall-back position

fall back Idioms  

1. Give ground, retreat, as in The troops fell back before the relentless enemy assault , or He stuck to his argument, refusing to fall back . [c. 1600]

2. Recede, as in The waves fell back from the shore . [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

Once airborne, microplastics can also fall back to Earth, adding to pollution in oceans and soils around the world.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

Knowing when to jump into the conversation at the right time, and knowing when to fall back.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

We think 10-year yields can fall back toward 4% over coming weeks.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

In the space of days, the mortgage rate they looked like getting rose sharply - but they now hope that could fall back before they finalise their move.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

When I fall back into the saddle, my leg slaps against her flank and she whinnies.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

Related Words

• recede
• withdraw