wayback machine
noun
variants
or less commonly Wayback Machine
humorous
: a device for traveling into the past
The past always seems a little better than the present, so who wouldn't want to take a trip in the wayback machine?—
Steven Zeitchik
Steven ZeitchikHe sort of resembles a grown-up version of Sherman, the cartoon character from "Rocky and His Friends" who used to join the dog Peabody on travels through history in "the wayback machine."—Joel Selvin
Joel SelvinExamples of wayback machine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Who needs a national title to dial up the wayback machine, eh?
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 7 Nov. 2022
Khaki pants aren't new to fashion like wearing a sweater over only one arm, or plucked from the wayback machine at a moment that feels new like cargo pants.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 July 2022
Sixteen straight wins come with privileges: The Cardinals’ magic number to claim the NL wild card is one, leaving them a week to fine-tune the engine on Adam Wainwright’s wayback machine before a likely date at Dodger Stadium Oct. 6.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021
Goose Island is dipping into the wayback machine — and in terms of craft beer, 2014 feels like forever ago — to re-create the 2014 version of its Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout.
—Josh Noel, chicagotribune.com, 10 Aug. 2021
Zall's program, established in 1992, was a kind of wayback machine that looked to as long ago as 1960.
—Star Tribune, 8 Jan. 2021
Your question reads like something pulled from the wayback machine -- when mothers encouraged, coached, or bullied their daughters on how to catch a man.
—Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 7 Nov. 2022
Khaki pants aren't new to fashion like wearing a sweater over only one arm, or plucked from the wayback machine at a moment that feels new like cargo pants.
—Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 July 2022
Sixteen straight wins come with privileges: The Cardinals’ magic number to claim the NL wild card is one, leaving them a week to fine-tune the engine on Adam Wainwright’s wayback machine before a likely date at Dodger Stadium Oct. 6.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021
Goose Island is dipping into the wayback machine — and in terms of craft beer, 2014 feels like forever ago — to re-create the 2014 version of its Proprietor’s Bourbon County Stout.
—Josh Noel, chicagotribune.com, 10 Aug. 2021
Zall's program, established in 1992, was a kind of wayback machine that looked to as long ago as 1960.
—Star Tribune, 8 Jan. 2021
Your question reads like something pulled from the wayback machine -- when mothers encouraged, coached, or bullied their daughters on how to catch a man.
—Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, 31 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wayback machine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Wayback machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wayback%20machine. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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