hark back

verb

harked back; harking back; harks back

intransitive verb

1

: to turn back to an earlier topic or circumstance

harked back to his youth

2

: to go back to something as an origin or source

a style that harks back to the turn of the century

Did you know?

Hark Back Got Its Start in Hunting

Hark, a very old word meaning "to listen," was used as a cry in hunting. The master of the hunt might cry "Hark! Forward!" or "Hark! Back!" The cries became set phrases, both as nouns and verbs. Thus, a "hark back" was a retracing of a route by dogs and hunters, and to "hark back" was to turn back along the path. From its use in hunting, the verb acquired its current figurative meanings concerned with returning to the past. The variants hearken and harken (also very old words meaning "to listen") are also used, with and without back, as synonyms of hark back.

Synonyms of hark back

• remember
• recall

Examples of hark back in a Sentence

the new stadium, designed for nostalgic appeal, harks back to the intimate ballparks of yore

Recent Examples on the Web

His appreciation of cinema harks back to one of the rare good memories of his father, who once took him to the movies to cheer him up after an episode of perverse cruelty from his mother. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Leading the way, Mordini harks back to former teammates Bolurin Taiwo, Tommie Aberle and Hudson Scroggins. —Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Its insistent guitar chug harks back to the indie rock of Bury Me at Makeout Creek, but the song doesn’t stay there for long, melting into a foreboding orchestral swell and chorus of wordless voices. —Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 16 Jan. 2026

Her combed-through curls harked back to Marilyn Monroe’s signature blond aesthetic, but with a bit more volume at the roots. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hark back

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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

hark back

verb

: to recall or cause to recall something earlier

hark back to the good old days