hark back

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to return to an earlier subject, point, or position, as in speech or thought

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hark back Idioms  

1. Return to a previous point, as in Let us hark back briefly to my first statement. This expression originally alluded to hounds retracing their course when they have lost their quarry's scent. It may be dying out. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hark back

The peculiar details in his contested fortune hark back to another strange will from 50 years ago, involving yet another Las Vegas-based entrepreneur, known more now for his oddities than his accomplishments: Howard Hughes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Indisputably, there are signs—some of which hark back to the dot-com era—that it is.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

Its title appears to hark back to the singer's 2012 hit Boyfriend, featuring the line "swag, swag, swag, on you".

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025

The 11 songs on the album bridge storytelling with classic country and folk sounds that hark back to the ‘70s, a la songs like the Eagles’ “Wasted Time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2025

Sometimes in public, hearing a stranger, I’d hark back to my past.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Related Words

• degenerate
• go back
• react
• regress
• turn back