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

The strongest segments were the flashbacks to Kara’s childhood on Argo City. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026

America’s 250th has unleashed flashbacks to the Bicentennial, a buildup to July 4, 1976, awash in corporate patriotic branding, a flood of variety specials and a very memorable version of Schoolhouse Rock. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 July 2026

Verb

The book also flashes back two hundred years to young Moose Spahr, who makes the dangerous and arduous trek to the land his family will live on, lugging the piano required in exchange for the deed. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 7 July 2026

Down at the bottom of the hill, four aspen trees by the barn flashed the lighter sides of their leaves and then flashed back, a silent laughter. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

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
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

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