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
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
After 130 years, the Louis Vuitton monogram still carries weight, hearkening back to an era of remarkable craftsmanship.
—Brandon Kaipo Moningka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The glory hole hearkens back to Episode 6, when Whitney brings Henry (Kit Harrington) to a gay night club and leads him to a glory hole.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hearken back
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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
After 130 years, the Louis Vuitton monogram still carries weight, hearkening back to an era of remarkable craftsmanship.
—Brandon Kaipo Moningka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The glory hole hearkens back to Episode 6, when Whitney brings Henry (Kit Harrington) to a gay night club and leads him to a glory hole.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 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 22 Apr. 2026.
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