fall back vs retreat

retreat vs fall back

fall back is not a noun while retreat is a noun.

fall back and retreat both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
fall back	No	No	Yes	No
retreat	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, retreat is a hypernym of fall back; that is, retreat is a word with a broader meaning than fall back:

fall back: move back and away from
retreat: pull back or move away or backward

Other hypernyms of fall back include draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw.

fall back (noun)	retreat (noun)
	(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
	withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
	the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
	an area where you can be alone
	(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
	(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
	a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet

fall back (verb)	retreat (verb)
go back to bad behavior	make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
retreat	pull back or move away or backward
hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.	move back
fall backwards and down	move away, as for privacy
move back and away from
have recourse to

Difference between fall back and retreat

© WordCmp.com 2024, CC-BY 4.0 / CC-BY-SA 3.0.