retrace

[ri-treys]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR retrace ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·traced, re·trac·ing.

to trace backward; go back over: to retrace one's steps.

to go back over with the memory.

to go over again with the sight or attention.

re-trace.

Origin of retrace

1690–1700; < French retracer, Middle French retracier, equivalent to re- re- + tracier to trace¹

Related formsre·trace·a·ble, adjectivere·trace·ment, nounnon·re·trace·a·ble, adjective

re-trace

[ree-treys]

verb (used with object), re-traced, re-trac·ing.

to trace again, as lines in writing or drawing.

Also retrace.

Origin of re-trace

First recorded in 1750–60; re- + trace¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for retrace

reiterate, backtrack, recall, recollect, reminisce, retell, perseverate

Examples from the Web for retrace

Historical Examples of retrace

But he did not retrace his steps in order to remonstrate with her severely in the street.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
With what emotions would she trace and retrace her own eventful story!
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox
I knew it must be near noontime, so I began to retrace my way.
The Bay State Monthly, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Various
They turned, and with Sim between them Ralph and Rotha began to retrace their steps.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine
Yoga Rama repeatedly asked me to trace and retrace all the letters of the name.
Telepathy
W. W. Baggally

British Dictionary definitions for retrace

retrace

verb (tr)

to go back over (one's steps, a route, etc) againwe retraced the route we took last summer

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

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

Derived Formsretraceable, adjectiveretracement, noun

re-trace

verb

(tr) to trace (a map, drawing, etc) again

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for retrace

1690s, from French retracer "to trace again," from Middle French retracier, from re- "again" (see re-) + tracier "to trace" (see trace (v.)). Related: Retraced; retracing.