flashback

1 of 2

noun

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

Jane, a TV producer, is shown in flashback as a schoolgirl …

—Margaret Rauch

b

: a past incident recurring vividly in the mind

also : an instance of such recurrence

having flashbacks to his experiences in the war

flash back

2 of 2

verb

flashed back; flashing back; flashes back

intransitive verb

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 of flashback

Verb

• remember
• recall
• think (of)

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.

Verb

the scent made me flash back to the days of my mother's home-cooked Sunday dinners

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a flashback 200 years ago, a young Malcolm and his cousin capture a mysterious pregnant woman who was trespassing on their land. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

What’s the point of me having a couple of flashbacks and say, this guy exists or doesn’t exist? —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025

Verb

The show then flashes back, and viewers see Marissa taking the medical kit out of their car and swapping out Peter's EpiPen with an expired one. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Nov. 2025

And when her grandchildren reach up to hug her, grasping around her neck, her mind flashes back to those moments when Kirk wrapped his hands around her, strangling her during the attack. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flashback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

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