fallback
1 of 2noun
fall·back ˈfȯl-ˌbak 
1
: something on which one can fall back : reserve —often used attributively
a fallback careera fallback position
2
: a falling back : retreat
3
: something that falls back
the fallback from an explosion
fall back
2 of 2verb
fell back; fallen back; falling back; falls back
intransitive verb
: retreat, recede
Synonyms
Verb
- back away
- drop back
- pull out
- recede
- retire
- retreat
- withdraw
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 July 2022 If something were to fail with the data functionality, the system goes into voice fallback and the (drivers) are still able to communicate with dispatch. Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, 28 July 2022 In some cases, the fallback systems designed to take control of the vehicle remotely failed, leaving Cruise employees unable to move the vehicles out of traffic until they were physically towed away, the person states in the letter. Ryan Felton, WSJ, 14 July 2022 To top it off, Celsius didn’t have a fallback similar to a central bank, ready to offer loans or other support to keep vital institutions afloat. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 30 June 2022 Those, however, only would be fallback positions if current Heat teammates are unable to convince Tucker to stay. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2022 If your design staff rebels against a blank slide, the fallback position is a simple picture or a simple quote. Merrie Spaeth, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Lysychansk, on the high bank, is seen as a more defensible fallback position for the Ukrainians fighting in this area. New York Times, 9 June 2022 There’s also a fallback plan, and that’s about keeping the lights on in a part of the Beehive State that has lived one way for a century and now must find a new way. Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 July 2022 See More
Noun
Beyond that, Whittingham went to an old fallback, reiterating his long standing belief that more change is coming. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 July 2022 If something were to fail with the data functionality, the system goes into voice fallback and the (drivers) are still able to communicate with dispatch. Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, 28 July 2022 In some cases, the fallback systems designed to take control of the vehicle remotely failed, leaving Cruise employees unable to move the vehicles out of traffic until they were physically towed away, the person states in the letter. Ryan Felton, WSJ, 14 July 2022 To top it off, Celsius didn’t have a fallback similar to a central bank, ready to offer loans or other support to keep vital institutions afloat. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 30 June 2022 Those, however, only would be fallback positions if current Heat teammates are unable to convince Tucker to stay. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2022 If your design staff rebels against a blank slide, the fallback position is a simple picture or a simple quote. Merrie Spaeth, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Lysychansk, on the high bank, is seen as a more defensible fallback position for the Ukrainians fighting in this area. New York Times, 9 June 2022 There’s also a fallback plan, and that’s about keeping the lights on in a part of the Beehive State that has lived one way for a century and now must find a new way. Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1830, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
1607, in the meaning defined above
fell back
verb
as in withdrew
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- withdrew
- retreated
- dropped back
- pulled out
- retired
- lost ground
- backed away
- gave way
- gave ground
- fled
- evacuated
- receded
- climbed down
- bowed out
- flew
- left
- backed down
- pulled away
- flinched
- detached
- recoiled
- shrunk
- shrank
- went
- departed
- abandoned
- chickened (out)
- backtracked
- backpedaled
- disengaged
- vacated
- disentangled
- quit
- quitted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- advanced
- confronted
- faced
- dared
- bearded
- outbraved
- braved
- defied
- breasted
- brazened