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 WebAlexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The 140-seat restaurant will be a throwback to classic New York and Grand Central Oyster Bar, in particular.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Pearson alluded to the high court’s ruling and its throwback to Arizona’s territorial days.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
They are also simulcast on every major cable and broadcast network, a throwback to a more quaint media age when Americans absorbed information from the same group of news sources.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Bill Maher expands podcast operation with a controversial host
Ah, a throwback to a simpler time when celebrities launched podcast networks.
—Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 27 Mar. 2024
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
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
Before Swift releases her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19, here's a look back at some of the sweetest throwbacks of the singer as a little one.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
The 140-seat restaurant will be a throwback to classic New York and Grand Central Oyster Bar, in particular.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
Pearson alluded to the high court’s ruling and its throwback to Arizona’s territorial days.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
They are also simulcast on every major cable and broadcast network, a throwback to a more quaint media age when Americans absorbed information from the same group of news sources.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Bill Maher expands podcast operation with a controversial host
Ah, a throwback to a simpler time when celebrities launched podcast networks.
—Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 27 Mar. 2024
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
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 23 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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