go back

verb

went back; gone back; going back; goes back

intransitive

1

: to return to a place, activity, or situation

I forgot my phone and had to go back.

I left school but later went back.

Once you do this, there's no going back. [=you cannot undo what has been done]

2

: to have existed for a particular amount of time or since a particular period

traditions that go back to ancient times

3

: to have known each other for a particular amount of time or for a long time

We go back 30 years.

They go way back.

4

: to think or talk about something from the past

To understand, you have to go back to when it started.

see also:

go back on

Examples of go back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wait for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back out. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026

Leonard scored six straight points for the Clippers, and the lead went back and forth, but down the stretch Wembanyama had the answer for each Clippers score. —Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026

As people come in, the money goes back into neighborhoods as police and firemen, snowplows and road crews — the infrastructure and services residents expect government to provide. —Mark Dee march 6, Idaho Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026

Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum In 2024, Rihanna became the face of the iconic Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum, but her love for the luxury perfume goes back to her childhood, according to an interview with Vogue. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for go back

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