as in retracted
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 took back
Almost serendipitously, however, was a trip that AJ and Kristina took back home to Charlotte to visit AJ’s mother.
—
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Four years earlier, Lawler, a former state assemblyman, was elected when Republicans took back control of the House.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Frost forwards Katy Knoll and Klára Hymlárová were moving toward the Sirens’ goal when both took back-to-back hits from New York players.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Supreme Court took back the case and set an accelerated schedule for the coming week, when prosecutors and defense attorneys can argue over whether to finish the analysis.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rebound on Wall Street, as South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Four years earlier, Lawler, a former state assemblyman, was elected when Republicans took back control of the House.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Frost forwards Katy Knoll and Klára Hymlárová were moving toward the Sirens’ goal when both took back-to-back hits from New York players.
—Theodore Tollefson, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Supreme Court took back the case and set an accelerated schedule for the coming week, when prosecutors and defense attorneys can argue over whether to finish the analysis.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rebound on Wall Street, as South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
-
But Lucas, known for making false confessions, later retracted his claim, and other evidence disproved his connection to the murder.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Author Michael Wolff said last year that Epstein played a role in introducing the couple in a Daily Beast article that was later retracted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2000, the UNIFIL established a de-facto area along the southern Lebanese border with Israel, after Israeli forces withdrew following their second invasion.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
An earlier court petition was dismissed in 2015 after the ex-wife withdrew it.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the country’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has denied Cuba has political prisoners and has stressed that his government is not negotiating any internal political matters with the United States.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Beyoncé's publicist has denied rumors that the singer's next album will be released the week of the Met Gala.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During their investigation, police found evidence that contradicted Kirby's explanation.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the new information ran counter to narratives his defense had told reporters or submitted to the court, but some also contradicted statements by the prosecution and the government.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The ban was repealed on May 14, 2008.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Heaton noted that a similar fee was in place from 2011 to 2017 but was ultimately repealed after rural homeowners argued they were being unfairly targeted.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
