retrace

American  

[ri-treys] / rɪˈtreɪs /

verb (used with object)

retraced, retracing

1. to trace backward; go back over.

   to retrace one's steps.

2. to go back over with the memory.

3. to go over again with the sight or attention.

4. re-trace.

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retrace British  

/ rɪˈtreɪs /

verb

1. to go back over (one's steps, a route, etc) again

   we retraced the route we took last summer

2. to go over (a past event) in the mind; recall

3. to go over (a story, account, etc) from the beginning

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Other Word Forms

• nonretraceable
  adjective
• retraceable
  adjective
• retracement
  noun

Etymology

Origin of retrace

1690–1700; < French retracer, Middle French retracier, equivalent to re- re- + tracier to trace ¹

Explanation

To retrace is to walk the same path again, or to follow a path someone else has taken. You could visit the town your ancestors came from and attempt to retrace their steps there. When you lose your glasses, some helpful person may ask you, "Did you retrace your steps?" What they're suggesting is that you walk everywhere you went earlier, checking as you go to see if you left them on a table or desk nearby. A detective will also retrace someone's steps to solve a crime, looking for clues while walking where the suspect walked. Trace means "outline," but also "follow a line or a path."

Example Sentences

Timeline: Retrace the last seven days of a balloon that captivated the world.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2023

Retrace your steps to Magnolia Bridge, then take the raised sidewalk onto the bridge.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2022

Retrace your steps to return, and remember to pack out your trash.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2019

In the case of Retrace Health, Mr. Aderinkomi claims that his company has one goal, “To lower health care costs by bridging online and offline care.”

From Forbes • Aug. 7, 2014

Retrace the filament and you go back to the cocoon’s beginning in a tiny knot, a first tentative loop.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides