take back

British  

verb

1. to retract or withdraw (something said, written, promised, etc)

2. to regain possession of

3. to return for exchange

   to take back a substandard garment

4. to accept (someone) back (into one's home, affections, etc)

5. to remind one of the past; cause one to reminisce

   that tune really takes me back

6. (also intr) printing to move (copy) to the previous line

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take back Idioms  

1. Retract a statement, as in I said you weren't much of a cook but after that dinner I take it all back . This usage was first recorded in 1775.

2. take one back . Return in thought to a past time, as in That music takes me back to the first dance I ever went to . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

But the danger for Ukraine, Zaluzhniy said, is that its undermanned army could reach a point of exhaustion unless it can take back the initiative in the high-tech drone war.

From The Wall Street Journal

They spoke anonymously out of fear of reprisals by the Taliban, which took back control of Afghanistan following the US troop withdrawal in 2021.

From BBC

I do agree with you on one thing: Hurtful comments are impossible to take back.

From MarketWatch

Hole In The Wall, one of the restaurants that she is accused of stealing from, says that they took back their food after Ms Chung said she wanted to pay with photos.

From BBC

After spending the night with them, Ahmed said he was taken back to the hangar.

From BBC

Related Words

• cancel
• reclaim
• renege
• repeal
• repossess
• rescind
• revoke
• withdraw