drop back
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
Move to the back of a group, or fall into a lower position than before.
Literal meaning: To move backward or further behind.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To move to a position further behind others, especially in a race, competition, or group moving together.
"The lead runner dropped back at the halfway point and let his rival take the front."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral
To fall to a lower position in a ranking or league table.
"After three consecutive losses, the team dropped back to fifth place."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Common in sports reporting and descriptions of physical movement in groups. Can be deliberate (a runner dropping back to pace a teammate) or involuntary (a cyclist dropping back due to fatigue).
Commonly used with
position field pack rankings second place group
Forms
Base
drop back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drops back
he/she/it
Past simple
droped back
yesterday
Past participle
droped back
have + pp
-ing form
droping back
continuous
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Synonyms
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