retrace

American  

[ri-treys] / rɪˈtreɪs /

verb (used with object)

• retraces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• retraced,
  past participle,  past
• retracing
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

• retracement
  noun
• nonretraceable
  adjective
• retraceable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• retracing
  present
• retraced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• retrace
  simple
• retraces
  simple
• have retraced
  perfect
• has retraced
  perfect
• am retracing
  progressive
• are retracing
  progressive
• is retracing
  progressive
• have been retracing
  perfect progressive
• has been retracing
  perfect progressive

Past

• retraced
  simple
• had retraced
  perfect
• was retracing
  progressive
• were retracing
  progressive
• had been retracing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will retrace
  simple
• will have retraced
  perfect
• will be retracing
  progressive
• will have been retracing
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

retrace retraces retraced retracing

Still, the rebound in the U.S. 10-year bond yield toward 4.7% means that the market could be more vulnerable to profit-taking if rates continue to retrace higher, it adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

With Ukrainian airspace closed because of the war with Russia, they will then retrace their steps to Poland and fly to London for next week's second leg.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

But there’s a limit to how many similar instances, all with the same structure, the film can retrace before it gives way to monotony.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

He also spoke briefly about his upcoming episodic HBO series, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Happiness,” a historical spoof that will retrace United States history for the country’s 250th founding anniversary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2026

Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Running until March 8, the exhibit retraces the journeys made by the researcher, who died in 2003.

From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026

OTTAWA—Retailers in Canada saw a jump in sales in November that retraces weak trade in recent months, hinting at a recovery in household consumption heading into the important holiday season.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

Prime Video’s “Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames,” in contrast, retraces the reporting of Vanity Fair’s Alice Hines, who serves as its main protagonist and narrator.

From Salon ● Nov. 11, 2023

It then retraces its steps home in late afternoon into evening.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2023

“So, every seventy-five years, he retraces the journey, hoping to reunite with her.”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

The oil market did a “good job in making up for the supply cut off” from Iran, which is why prices retraced so sharply, Edward Meir, an analyst at financial-services platform Marex, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

And then he retraced his steps across the 150-foot wide thoroughfare that knifes through the heart of the city along what once was the Red Car line of the Pacific Electric Railway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026

WTI crude prices have retraced a substantial amount of their post-war surge, but current futures prices don’t anticipate a return to pre-war levels until at least the middle of next year.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

Yet another future president might have retraced a path toward more balanced economic or security policies once the disadvantages of trade wars or diplomatic and military isolation became obvious.

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2026

Then they had heard something of the fearful journey the two had shared as they retraced their steps through the swamp and forest to the clifftop and down to the Mountain's foot.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

The dollar is currently around 159.30 yen, retracing roughly half its original gains.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

After his journey retracing his life off-grid, he decided to send his mother a text message.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

Two films at this year's Berlin Film Festival follow members of the African diaspora telling stories by retracing the paths of their ancestors.

From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026

At City Hall, both supporters and critics of Bass have been retracing recent events, looking for clues as to how things went wrong.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026

My dad and I had been in the north country recently, retracing a 1915 wilderness journey taken by my grandfather.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover