English dictionary



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English verb: fall back

1. fall back (motion) fall backwards and down


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)lean back, recline

2. fall back (motion) hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.


Synonymsdawdle, fall behind, lag


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)follow


Narrower (hyponym)drag, drop back, drop behind, get behind, hang back, trail

3. fall back (motion) move back and away from


SamplesThe enemy fell back.


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Something is ----ing PP.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, retreat, withdraw


Narrower (hyponym)ebb, ebb away, ebb down, ebb off, ebb out

4. fall back (competition) retreat


Synonymsdrop off, fall behind, lose, recede


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)regress, retrograde, retrogress


Antonymsgain ground, get ahead, make headway, pull ahead, win, gain, advance

5. fall back (social) have recourse to


SamplesThe government resorted to rationing meat.


Synonymsrecur, resort


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize

6. fall back (body) go back to bad behavior


SamplesThose who recidivate are often minor criminals.


Synonymslapse, recidivate, regress, relapse, retrogress


Pattern of useSomebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)regress, retrovert, return, revert, turn back









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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