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
Justin Herbert and company opened at 3-0, then took back-to-back Ls and narrowly escaped the floundering Miami Dolphins.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2002, state officials took back $40 million for corridor planning in light of community fears that dedicated lanes would eat up space for travel and parking.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
But Utah's Republican supermajority Legislature, instead, took back redistricting power, largely nullifying the ballot initiative.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Swayman shrugged off the softy and several key stops early in the third period when the B’s took back-to-back penalties.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
AllianceBernstein took back the asset in its unfinished state from developer Stockdale Capital Partners after a public auction that garnered no bids.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
New York’s Bobby Okereke scooped it up with a chance to take it before Mahomes crashed into him and took back the ball.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
In the final, in their 5th meeting of the season, Sewing took back control of their rivalry with a 12,6 win to take the title.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Lions took back the lead in the 50th minute with a second goal from Muriel.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2002, state officials took back $40 million for corridor planning in light of community fears that dedicated lanes would eat up space for travel and parking.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
But Utah's Republican supermajority Legislature, instead, took back redistricting power, largely nullifying the ballot initiative.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Swayman shrugged off the softy and several key stops early in the third period when the B’s took back-to-back penalties.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
AllianceBernstein took back the asset in its unfinished state from developer Stockdale Capital Partners after a public auction that garnered no bids.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
New York’s Bobby Okereke scooped it up with a chance to take it before Mahomes crashed into him and took back the ball.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
In the final, in their 5th meeting of the season, Sewing took back control of their rivalry with a 12,6 win to take the title.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Lions took back the lead in the 50th minute with a second goal from Muriel.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
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The grounds crews can work on the grass sections in tight quarters underneath the concourses and get grow lamps on them even when they’re retracted.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
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The woman filed a human resources complaint against him but retracted it days later out of fear of retaliation, three officials told Politico.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fighting between the two countries in recent weeks marks the deadliest escalation since the US withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, and could signal a new period of instability for the once-friendly neighbors.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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Afghanistan withdrew from a Twenty20 international tri-series in Pakistan following the deaths of three local cricketers, which the Afghanistan Cricket Board attributed to military strikes in Paktika province.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Takaichi has called for a hardline stance towards China and is also in favor of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, especially Article 9, which renounced Japan’s right to wage war.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
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Using simple yet incandescent prose, Paine renounced, repudiated and ridiculed at a clip seldom witnessed in print before or since.—
Matthew Redmond,
The Conversation,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Through a lawyer, Minaj denied the claims.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
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Wendi and her father Harvey have not been charged with any crime and have denied involvement in the plot.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once there, Glick quickly gathered information that contradicted claims the authorities had made in ruling out foul play.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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An internal investigation at the agency later found Jacobs violated its scientific integrity policy in releasing a statement that contradicted the National Weather Service.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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