fall back meaning and definition

FALL BACK verb

Definition of fall back (verb)

1. fall backwards and down
2. hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
   • synonyms: dawdle, fall behind, lag
3. move back and away from
   • "The enemy fell back"
4. retreat
   • synonyms: drop off, fall behind, lose, recede
   • antonym: advance
5. have recourse to
   • "The government resorted to rationing meat"
   • synonyms: recur, resort
6. go back to bad behavior
   • "Those who recidivate are often minor criminals"
   • synonyms: lapse, recidivate, regress, relapse, retrogress