hearken back
verb
variants
or harken back
hearkened back or harkened back; hearkening back or harkening back; hearkens back or harkens back
: to go back to or recall to mind something in the past : hark back
—usually used with to
This place caters to Americans and hearkens back to days when the town attracted famous celebrities.—
Barbara Zaragoza
Barbara ZaragozaGreenberg worked very closely with the laboratory which harkened back to his earliest days in the film business …—Ron Magid
Ron MagidExamples of hearken back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a state that can err on the side of over-development and endlessly trendy dining, Cedar Key offers something quieter, more authentic, and perhaps more compelling—dishes that hearken back to Old Florida, as pure and unadulterated as it was meant to be.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
While a storyline about Andy’s crappy apartment still stands, the final film instead leans into her spending time at her old friend Lily’s (Tracie Thoms) place, a dynamic that hearkens back to the 2006 original.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The relationship between Xochi and Sam hearkens back to themes from Nozicka’s earlier play, which is about a lesbian couple facing the tension between one partner’s belief in the paranormal and the other’s skepticism.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Fringe detailing on a vest or leather jacket hearkens back to the rancher influence of cowboy boots, and pairing it with more structured pieces like a shirt dress and gold jewelry offers a fun, modern take on Westernwear.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 20 Apr. 2026
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Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
While a storyline about Andy’s crappy apartment still stands, the final film instead leans into her spending time at her old friend Lily’s (Tracie Thoms) place, a dynamic that hearkens back to the 2006 original.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
The relationship between Xochi and Sam hearkens back to themes from Nozicka’s earlier play, which is about a lesbian couple facing the tension between one partner’s belief in the paranormal and the other’s skepticism.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Fringe detailing on a vest or leather jacket hearkens back to the rancher influence of cowboy boots, and pairing it with more structured pieces like a shirt dress and gold jewelry offers a fun, modern take on Westernwear.
—Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hearken back
Cite this Entry
“Hearken back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearken%20back. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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