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?

---

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 .

---

Example Sentences

“Gambling” is a term that has been used to characterize certain futures contracts going back to the origins of the CEA.

From Barron's

"You can go back over history, and you end up in a completely absurd position," he said.

From BBC

She’s gone back and forth with multiple servicers trying to address an issue that came up in the consolidation process.

From MarketWatch

“I feel good,” Pages said, when I asked him afterward not about last postseason, but about his confidence heading into this season — though his mind went back there anyway.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s operating under the assumption that oil could hit $175 a barrel and not go back to double digits until next year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• renege