1
as in recovered
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness
she's slowly coming back after being in a coma
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bounced (back)
to regain a former or normal state
the American bald eagle was once nearly extinct but has come back strong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in responded
to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction
he came back with another one of his smart remarks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of came back
In the fifth, a leadoff walk came back to haunt Ohtani.
—
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Lakers led by 15 in the first half, Houston came back and then the Lakers rebuilt a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and held off the Rockets down the stretch.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Drug and alcohol screenings came back negative.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Cleanups only happened at homes where kids’ blood tests came back as high or where yards contained nearly nine times the levels required to qualify for a cleanup in Omaha.
—Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
In April 2025, DNA on a white cord used to bind Vesey came back as matching Gaff, court records say.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Eszterhas was astonished when his script began circulating in the early ’90s, and word came back that Steven Spielberg allegedly wanted to direct it.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
The Warriors maintained a double-digit lead for most of the third period, but the Kings came back to cut the deficit to four after closing the quarter with a 9-0 run.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Robert Roberts and his wife Iris White chronicle much, including Black servicemen who came back from the war with European brides.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Lakers led by 15 in the first half, Houston came back and then the Lakers rebuilt a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and held off the Rockets down the stretch.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Drug and alcohol screenings came back negative.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Cleanups only happened at homes where kids’ blood tests came back as high or where yards contained nearly nine times the levels required to qualify for a cleanup in Omaha.
—Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
In April 2025, DNA on a white cord used to bind Vesey came back as matching Gaff, court records say.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Eszterhas was astonished when his script began circulating in the early ’90s, and word came back that Steven Spielberg allegedly wanted to direct it.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
The Warriors maintained a double-digit lead for most of the third period, but the Kings came back to cut the deficit to four after closing the quarter with a 9-0 run.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Robert Roberts and his wife Iris White chronicle much, including Black servicemen who came back from the war with European brides.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for came back
Verb
-
Talley fled the scene after the shooting, and officers later recovered a weapon when he was taken into custody, according to police.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Police recovered a knife at the scene.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran has responded by stepping up its attacks on ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Though the Red Sox got a run back in the top of the second on a solo homer by Wilyer Abreu, the Orioles immediately responded with a Rutschman fielder’s choice in the second, and then extended the lead on a solo shot by Samuel Basallo in the third.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As a senior, the new-and-improved Maloney earned first-team All-Dade honors, leading the 2015 Explorers to a 13-2 record and the Class 8A state semifinals.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Ukraine’s offensive capabilities have also improved, with the Defense Ministry saying Tuesday that the country’s forces have more than doubled the range of their deep-strike capabilities since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And then the city snapped back and became an even more aggressive grind than in 2019.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But when his drill struck rebar, the recoil snapped back into his mouth, breaking his teeth all over again.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Barrera later replied that just as Shaw loves her own children, the parents of transgender children love theirs, too.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
These days, this useful piece of biological engineering might fire when someone hasn’t replied to your email.—
Phil Starks,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago White Sox starter Noah Schultz rebounded, striking out James Wood looking and former Sox infielder Curtis Mead swinging.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Populations of lynx, brown bears, and moose have since rebounded.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hobson said her prayers had been answered.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Towns has answered question after question about his offense, his shot attempts, his touches, his rhythm with team captain and All-Star guard Jalen Brunson.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Peterson was cruising through the first three, however, the Nationals rallied for seven runs in the fourth to set up the blowout.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
West Texas Intermediate, the main US crude marker, rallied toward $111 a barrel on Thursday, while Brent, the global benchmark, topped $126.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Came back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/came%20back. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
