retraces; retraced; retracing
1
: to go back along the same course, path, etc., that you or someone else has taken earlier
retrace a path/route
The crew will attempt to retrace the last voyage of Captain Cook.
He carefully retraced his steps/footsteps back to the road.
2
: to find out about and describe (someone's past movements or actions)
Her biographer carefully retraced her childhood.
The police are attempting to retrace his movements on the night of the robbery.
Cite this Entry
“Retrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/retrace. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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