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

Nattiv skilfully braids together the key events that lead to Rita’s breakdown, with a breathtaking sense of tension across the flashbacks. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Nattiv tells the story in non-linear fashion, mixing flashbacks and current day to explain the pattern that leads Rita to abandon her family in favor of this new existence. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026

Verb

The video then flashed back to her childhood, with a young Dannielynn wearing a one-piece bathing suit and smiling. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2026

The war in question in Lithuanian director Andrius Blaževičius’ third feature is Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, the film flashing back to the opening days of the invasion in the winter months of 2022. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 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