go back

British  

verb

1. to return

2. (often foll by to) to originate (in)

   the links with France go back to the Norman Conquest

3. (foll by on) to change one's mind about; repudiate (esp in the phrase go back on one's word )

4. (of clocks and watches) to be set to an earlier time, as during British Summer Time

   when do the clocks go back this year?

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go back Idioms  

1. Return, retrace one's steps; also, return to a former condition. For example, I'm going back to the haunts of my youth , or We want to go back to the old way of doing things . [First half of 1500s]

2. Extend backward in space or time, as in Our land goes back to the stone wall , or The family name goes back to Norman times . [Second half of 1600s] Also see go back on .

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Example Sentences

Go back further and Carrick played in them.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

Go back to the photos of the marches in Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Go back one year further, and the contrast becomes even starker.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

Go back four years, and the business was losing money on a net basis.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

"Go back with the boys and stay with them."

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• renege