throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak 
1
: one that is suggestive of or suited to an earlier time or style
his manners were a throwback to a more polite era
2
a
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
b
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
threw back; thrown back; throwing back; throws back
1
: to delay the progress or advance of : check
2
: to cause to rely : make dependent
they are thrown back upon … native intelligence—
Michael Novak
Michael Novak3
: reflect
: to revert to an earlier type or phase
Examples of throwback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebKathleen Walsh, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2024
To them, the landline is a lifeline during power outages, a welcome throwback to the era before doomscrolling and push alerts, and a more comfortable, better-sounding alternative to tinny, thin smartphones.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
In an era when biochemistry predominates, the study of whole animals can sometimes seem like a throwback to another century.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Witherspoon, who turns 48 on March 22, 2024, is the queen of cute throwbacks
No one does a throwback like Reese Witherspoon.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Nonetheless, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire tries hard, very hard, to satisfy the series’ fans with plenty of nostalgic throwbacks and mainly succeeds.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
But despite its huge scale, Swift still manages to keep a personal touch, telling the stories behind the songs, repeatedly thanking the audience for their support, and even sprinkling in throwbacks from her previous tours, such as hand-hearts and mid-song costume changes.
—Howard Murphy, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024
Following on the heels of the post-punk, new wave and new romantic movements of the early 1980s, Mr. Wallinger embodied something of a throwback to the classical pop and folk styles of an earlier era, with music and lyrics influenced by the Beatles and Bob Dylan.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Here are 10 classic film pairings — match your favorite nominee with a throwback to create a winning double feature.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Not a single case has been reported after throwing back edible pot, however.
—Molly Sullivan, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
In David Leitch's action comedy, Colt Seavers (Gosling) is a retired stuntman thrown back into the fray to help his filmmaker ex-girlfriend (Emily Blunt) finish her big-budget movie when the main star goes missing.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024
Anything caught up in the net that wasn’t the target food species—known as bycatch—gets hauled aboard the ship, often dead, and thrown back overboard.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024
McCarthy snapped the ball, pitched it to running back Donovan Edwards, who then threw back across the field and over McCarthy’s head.
—AndrÉs Soto, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Chapman’s version had of course been thrown back into the mainstream after Combs released his cover of the song last April.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
Jacobs-Jenkins laughed, then—taking advantage of the echoey acoustics—threw back his head and screamed.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024
Immediately, we're thrown back into the finale of season two, where Sabi discovers that their father has suddenly passed away from a heart attack.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 23 Nov. 2023
Noun
On March 26, fashion's favorite rodeo queen posted two carousels of throwbacks from her night at the Texas rodeo American Performance Horseman event earlier in the month.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2024
To them, the landline is a lifeline during power outages, a welcome throwback to the era before doomscrolling and push alerts, and a more comfortable, better-sounding alternative to tinny, thin smartphones.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
In an era when biochemistry predominates, the study of whole animals can sometimes seem like a throwback to another century.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024
Witherspoon, who turns 48 on March 22, 2024, is the queen of cute throwbacks
No one does a throwback like Reese Witherspoon.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Nonetheless, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire tries hard, very hard, to satisfy the series’ fans with plenty of nostalgic throwbacks and mainly succeeds.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
But despite its huge scale, Swift still manages to keep a personal touch, telling the stories behind the songs, repeatedly thanking the audience for their support, and even sprinkling in throwbacks from her previous tours, such as hand-hearts and mid-song costume changes.
—Howard Murphy, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024
Following on the heels of the post-punk, new wave and new romantic movements of the early 1980s, Mr. Wallinger embodied something of a throwback to the classical pop and folk styles of an earlier era, with music and lyrics influenced by the Beatles and Bob Dylan.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Here are 10 classic film pairings — match your favorite nominee with a throwback to create a winning double feature.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
As a Cowgirl, Peach must use her trusty lasso to take out waves of enemies and capture projectiles to throw back their way, before mounting a steed for an automatic runner sequence dodging exploding barrels.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Not a single case has been reported after throwing back edible pot, however.
—Molly Sullivan, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
In David Leitch's action comedy, Colt Seavers (Gosling) is a retired stuntman thrown back into the fray to help his filmmaker ex-girlfriend (Emily Blunt) finish her big-budget movie when the main star goes missing.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024
Anything caught up in the net that wasn’t the target food species—known as bycatch—gets hauled aboard the ship, often dead, and thrown back overboard.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024
McCarthy snapped the ball, pitched it to running back Donovan Edwards, who then threw back across the field and over McCarthy’s head.
—AndrÉs Soto, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Chapman’s version had of course been thrown back into the mainstream after Combs released his cover of the song last April.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
Jacobs-Jenkins laughed, then—taking advantage of the echoey acoustics—threw back his head and screamed.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024
Immediately, we're thrown back into the finale of season two, where Sabi discovers that their father has suddenly passed away from a heart attack.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 23 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'throwback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwback. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
: something that has changed back to an earlier type or phase
Medical Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
1
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
2
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
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