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

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

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 Literature

Sometimes it helped to retrace your steps in order to remember things.

From Literature

Christie’s specialist Giada Damen, who spent months retracing its paper trail and showing it to Michelangelo experts, said this foot wound up with a Swiss diplomat whose family held onto it for generations.

From The Wall Street Journal