as in withdrawing
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
I take back what I said about her: she's not the fool I thought she was
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Recent Examples of taking back
But with the Lightning taking back home-ice advantage with this win and the series shifting back to Tampa, where Cooper will have full control of the matchup, the task becomes that much more difficult for the Suzuki line.
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
An opposition party taking back control of the government would likely see the abandonment of a warming of relations with Israel and the West more broadly.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
San Francisco has won five of its last seven games overall, taking back-to-back series for the first time under rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The clock is ticking on November’s midterm elections, and Democrats’ chances of taking back the Senate are improving.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
The funds were reportedly credited to the account and later withdrawn; however, the bank reversed the transaction after determining the check was fraudulent, taking back the museum’s money.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
All that has raised the hopes of Democrats about taking back both the House AND the Senate this year.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Monday's trading was a reminder that geopolitical conflicts have a limited impact on the stock market , pricing in the worst-case scenario early before taking back that risk.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Dallas would neuter Finland by taking back Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell, plus Jake Oettinger in net.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
An opposition party taking back control of the government would likely see the abandonment of a warming of relations with Israel and the West more broadly.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
San Francisco has won five of its last seven games overall, taking back-to-back series for the first time under rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The clock is ticking on November’s midterm elections, and Democrats’ chances of taking back the Senate are improving.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
The funds were reportedly credited to the account and later withdrawn; however, the bank reversed the transaction after determining the check was fraudulent, taking back the museum’s money.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
All that has raised the hopes of Democrats about taking back both the House AND the Senate this year.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Monday's trading was a reminder that geopolitical conflicts have a limited impact on the stock market , pricing in the worst-case scenario early before taking back that risk.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Dallas would neuter Finland by taking back Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell, plus Jake Oettinger in net.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking back
Verb
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Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
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Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Returning to the guitars that characterized the band’s earliest work without renouncing their latter-day synths, MacFarlane gives Graham’s ruminations an urgent tenderness.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Social Security Administration’s actuaries have found repealing the retirement earnings test will ultimately reduce trust fund costs, Adcock said.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
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That showed again how poorly the Legislature served the voters by repealing Florida’s runoff primary 21 years ago.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country's immigration law and say denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
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Yet there’s no denying that Renny Harlin, in his utilitarian action-hack way, has some chops.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its lawyers, however, stated in internal memos obtained by the New York Times that nonresident foreign nationals could have used third-party payment platforms to get around its safeguards and make donations — possibly contradicting the firm’s statements to Congress.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
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No Iranian delegation has yet departed for Islamabad, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing Iranian state TV, contradicting international media reports that a team of representatives was traveling.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20back. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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