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
Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rebound on Wall Street, as South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier.
—
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Against the odds, Ukraine managed to repel the initial Russian attack on Kyiv and, within a few months, took back large swaths of land originally seized by Moscow.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Hanover took back the lead, and then Kaden Domino cut it back to two for the Clippers after a steal by TreChaun Days near their basket.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
The party is hoping for a similar blue wave to 2018, when Democrats took back a majority in the House from Republicans.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Sweden took back the lead in the fourth end of the mixed doubles curling final, scoring a point to pull ahead 3-2 in a close match.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
That was the Year Zero moment, the sudden rupture when the Lewis family took back control of the club.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And only Shaheed took back both a kick and a punt for a TD.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
When Tarasenko scored just 68 seconds into the middle frame, then Buffalo took back-to-back penalties, the Wild were in complete control and looking for a three-goal lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Against the odds, Ukraine managed to repel the initial Russian attack on Kyiv and, within a few months, took back large swaths of land originally seized by Moscow.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Hanover took back the lead, and then Kaden Domino cut it back to two for the Clippers after a steal by TreChaun Days near their basket.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
The party is hoping for a similar blue wave to 2018, when Democrats took back a majority in the House from Republicans.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Sweden took back the lead in the fourth end of the mixed doubles curling final, scoring a point to pull ahead 3-2 in a close match.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
That was the Year Zero moment, the sudden rupture when the Lewis family took back control of the club.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And only Shaheed took back both a kick and a punt for a TD.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
When Tarasenko scored just 68 seconds into the middle frame, then Buffalo took back-to-back penalties, the Wild were in complete control and looking for a three-goal lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
-
The largest study of the medication included only 77 children and was retracted in January because of errors in its data analysis.—
Sara Novak,
Scientific American,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But confidence in some of the historical safety literature was shaken recently when a review paper published in 2000 that had long been cited as evidence of glyphosate’s safety was formally retracted by the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His son withdrew from high school.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Following the caller's instructions, the victim withdrew cash from her bank account and deposited it via several Bitcoin ATM transactions.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even as her hard-line tactics have shown some success, Sheinbaum has not renounced the precepts of López Obrador, who, while retired, remains a revered and influential figure.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Gaetano Milano, a sharpshooting young gangster who renounced the mafia and experienced a religious rebirth after gunning down one of New England’s most ruthless mob bosses, died early this week.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ukrainian officials have denied the accusations, saying the pipeline, which feeds refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was hit in a Russian drone attack.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Iran denied firing a missile at Turkey but has not responded to drones targeting the British base in Cyprus.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Subsequent videos of the shootings contradicted those claims.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Within hours of their deaths, Noem publicly accused both of engaging in acts of domestic terrorism — claims later contradicted by video evidence.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The law was in response to an energy crisis and was meant to last two years, but Congress repealed it before the two years were up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In recognizing that the City no longer has a City Police or Fire Department and to eliminate any confusion, shall Article IV, Section 10 of the City of Lake Worth Beach Charter (Police and Fire Departments) be repealed?—
South Florida Sun Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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