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

Example Sentences

The goodbyes happened in a heartbreaking blur, and, before I knew it, we’d retraced our steps through the maze of corridors and staircases and left the house.

From Literature

Yields later retraced their gains after New York Fed President John Williams said at a conference that cooling inflation could allow for interest-rate cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal

They anchored too tightly to precedent, particularly the market’s short-lived flare-up in June, which retraced once flows quickly normalized.

From Barron's

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

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