fall back

1 of 1verb

/ˈfɔl ˈbæk/

Forms:falls back,falling back,fell back,fallen back

to move back, often from a challenging situation or conflict

Faced with overwhelming enemy forces, the soldiers had to fall back to a more defensible position.
The team decided to fall back when they realized they were outnumbered and outgunned.
In the face of criticism, the company chose to fall back and reassess its marketing strategy.
During the battle, the troops were ordered to fall back to regroup and reinforce their positions.
Recognizing the escalating conflict, the negotiators chose to fall back temporarily to allow tensions to cool.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

to suddenly lose one's balance and fall backward

Losing his footing on the slippery slope, he began to fall back, narrowly avoiding a more serious tumble.
As the gust of wind intensified, the tree branch couldn't hold its weight and started to fall back.
Stepping on the uneven surface, she felt herself lose balance and began to fall back but managed to catch herself.
The unstable chair gave way, causing him to fall back unexpectedly, surprising those around him.
Attempting a challenging yoga pose, she struggled to maintain balance and ultimately started to fall back, giggling at her attempt.

to revert to a previous state of bad behavior, habit, or practice, especially after making an effort to change

Despite his efforts to quit smoking, he fell back into the habit during times of stress.
After completing a rehabilitation program, she was determined not to fall back into substance abuse.
The students who had improved their grades began to fall back when they stopped putting in effort.
The athlete struggled not to fall back into unhealthy eating habits during the off-season.
Breaking the cycle of negative behavior can be challenging, as individuals may sometimes fall back into familiar patterns.

Synonyms:

to rely on something as a backup or alternative plan

When the original plan failed, they had to fall back on their contingency strategy.
If the weather doesn't improve, we may need to fall back on our indoor event option.
In times of crisis, people often fall back on their core values for guidance.
When faced with uncertainty, it's essential to have a reliable plan to fall back on.
If the first solution proves unfeasible, we can fall back on the alternative approach.

Synonyms:

to reduce in number or value

The demand for the product fell back after the initial surge in sales.
As the economy struggled, consumer spending began to fall back.
The enthusiasm for the project fell back when unexpected challenges arose.
Company profits fell back due to increased competition in the market.
Despite initial progress, the team saw their lead fall back as the opposing team gained momentum.