as in retracted
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
I take back what I said about her: she's not the fool I thought she was
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Recent Examples of took back
One of those picks was off MVP Matt Stafford, by the way, which Jackson took back to the Panthers’ end zone.
—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
In April, Ukraine actually took back more land than Russia seized for the first time since 2024.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Four years earlier, Lawler, a former state assemblyman, was elected when Republicans took back control of the House.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Frost forwards Katy Knoll and Klára Hymlárová were moving toward the Sirens’ goal when both took back-to-back hits from New York players.
—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
11 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Supreme Court took back the case and set an accelerated schedule for the coming week, when prosecutors and defense attorneys can argue over whether to finish the analysis.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
In April, Ukraine actually took back more land than Russia seized for the first time since 2024.
—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Four years earlier, Lawler, a former state assemblyman, was elected when Republicans took back control of the House.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Frost forwards Katy Knoll and Klára Hymlárová were moving toward the Sirens’ goal when both took back-to-back hits from New York players.
—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
11 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, the Supreme Court took back the case and set an accelerated schedule for the coming week, when prosecutors and defense attorneys can argue over whether to finish the analysis.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
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One of his Greenlandic colleagues offered his own thoughts, then similarly retracted, lest his assertions affect Greenland’s new position of leverage.
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The farm retracted those statements five days later, but continued to dispute the cause of the outbreak and contest the agency’s findings.
Verb
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Trump withdrew from the JCPOA agreement in 2018, during his first term as president.
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The Arkansas Department of Education first released a set of draft rules in November but withdrew them after the proposal drew hundreds of critical comments from parents and others for being too restrictive.
Verb
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What follows are dozens of examples of how those whose names are familiar (or aren’t) and legendary (or infamous) for their actions while representing the state have been embraced (or renounced) by the rest of the country and beyond.
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She’s since voted to block military aid to Israel and renounced the group.
Verb
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Then multiple states filed lawsuits alleging the agency failed to conduct proper environmental reviews, which DHS denied.
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The band had been denied the opportunity to perform during Haiti’s pre-World Cup friendly against Peru, despite the presence of a Peruvian band.
Verb
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This recognition contradicted almost two centuries of Colonial practice, making it among the most radical achievements of the founding era.
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Some reported a few dozen microbe types, others more than 900, and one company even contradicted itself on the same sample.
Verb
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Carrera can now only afford to take only one or two classes a semester after his in-state tuition was repealed.
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The extension is expected to generate approximately $925,000 annually and will continue unless repealed by voters.
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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