flash·back
ˈflash-ˌbak 
1
: a recession of flame to an unwanted position (as into a blowpipe)
2
a
: interruption of chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) by interjection of events of earlier occurrence
also
: an instance of flashback
b
: a past incident recurring vividly in the mind
flashed back; flashing back; flashes back
1
: to focus one's mind on or vividly remember a past time or incident
—usually used with to
flashed back to my childhood
2
: to employ a flashback (as in a film)
—usually used with to
Synonyms
Examples of flashback in a Sentence
Noun
The character's childhood was described in a series of flashbacks.
He's having flashbacks of his days in the war.
Recent Examples on the Web
Marianne Garvey, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
In all that time, neither Frankie nor Winston stand out as compelling leads; we’re simply instructed to care about them via black-and-white flashbacks to their impoverished Bronx childhoods that open each episode.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
In September 2017, in a flashback to the '90s supermodel era, Crawford, Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Campbell suddenly reunited on the Versace runway.
—Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
In fact, the first half of Jigsaw (2017) is one big flashback.
—Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2023
The ancillary characters are less memorable and the plot, peppered with flashbacks, is sometimes needlessly convoluted.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
One flashback pic even showed True carefully caressing the head of a then newborn Tatum.
—Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023
An incredibly mild, non-graphic flashback scene where protagonist Taeko has her first period.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
Why: The flashbacks in this episode bring us so many things—Phoebe remembering past lives, Joey putting his head up a dead animal, Chandler commenting about Monica's weight, and finally Monica going too far to get revenge when Chandler ends up in the ER.
—House Beautiful, 7 Sep. 2023
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
The film then flashes back to introduce a brilliant, but frustrated student who brings the study of quantum physics from Europe to the United States at UC Berkeley.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 19 July 2023
In the 22-second preview, old footage flashes back to the singer’s earliest musical memories.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2023
Many of us reading that have flashed back to a similar event.
—Terry Pluto, cleveland, 29 July 2023
The Season 2 premiere flashes back in time to Tom’s wake, providing viewers with a deep understanding of the Duffy community and how Tom’s death affected not only the Spades but everyone orbiting them — this sequence colors in more background for the supporting characters.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 July 2023
Bob Odenkirk The gray-haired star of Better Call Saul—and Illinois native—is Uncle Lee, who in episode 6, which flashes back to a 2018 Berzatto family Christmas, can’t seem to get anyone to take a scalding dutch oven off his hands or listen to his take on the seven fishes.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 June 2023
The narrative then flashes back to the beginning of the story, when Liam is hired to tutor the Sinclairs’ son, Bertie (Stephen McMillan), for his entrance exams to Oxford University.
—Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023
The film flashes back 24 years, when a young Nora, then called Na Young, and Hae Sung are walking home from school in Seoul.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 June 2023
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Noun
The show contained a flashback to when Will came out to Grace when the two were dating in college.
—Marianne Garvey, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
In all that time, neither Frankie nor Winston stand out as compelling leads; we’re simply instructed to care about them via black-and-white flashbacks to their impoverished Bronx childhoods that open each episode.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023
In September 2017, in a flashback to the '90s supermodel era, Crawford, Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Campbell suddenly reunited on the Versace runway.
—Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023
In fact, the first half of Jigsaw (2017) is one big flashback.
—Sage Anderson, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2023
The ancillary characters are less memorable and the plot, peppered with flashbacks, is sometimes needlessly convoluted.
—Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
One flashback pic even showed True carefully caressing the head of a then newborn Tatum.
—Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2023
An incredibly mild, non-graphic flashback scene where protagonist Taeko has her first period.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
Why: The flashbacks in this episode bring us so many things—Phoebe remembering past lives, Joey putting his head up a dead animal, Chandler commenting about Monica's weight, and finally Monica going too far to get revenge when Chandler ends up in the ER.
—House Beautiful, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
Azra’s relationship with her mother, Mariam, is strained, but Azra’s arrival forces Mariam to recall her own childhood and flash back to 1969 Pakistan.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
The film then flashes back to introduce a brilliant, but frustrated student who brings the study of quantum physics from Europe to the United States at UC Berkeley.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 19 July 2023
In the 22-second preview, old footage flashes back to the singer’s earliest musical memories.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2023
Many of us reading that have flashed back to a similar event.
—Terry Pluto, cleveland, 29 July 2023
The Season 2 premiere flashes back in time to Tom’s wake, providing viewers with a deep understanding of the Duffy community and how Tom’s death affected not only the Spades but everyone orbiting them — this sequence colors in more background for the supporting characters.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 July 2023
Bob Odenkirk The gray-haired star of Better Call Saul—and Illinois native—is Uncle Lee, who in episode 6, which flashes back to a 2018 Berzatto family Christmas, can’t seem to get anyone to take a scalding dutch oven off his hands or listen to his take on the seven fishes.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 June 2023
The narrative then flashes back to the beginning of the story, when Liam is hired to tutor the Sinclairs’ son, Bertie (Stephen McMillan), for his entrance exams to Oxford University.
—Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023
The film flashes back 24 years, when a young Nora, then called Na Young, and Hae Sung are walking home from school in Seoul.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flashback.' 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
“Flashback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashback. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
flashback
noun
flash·back
ˈflash-ˌbak
1
: the introduction of a past event into a story or motion picture
also
: this past event
2
: a past incident recurring clearly in the mind
More from Merriam-Webster on flashback
Nglish: Translation of flashback for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of flashback for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flashback
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