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
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
Offense coming from defense With a goal on Monday, his seventh, Jacob Trouba took back the Ducks’ lead among defensemen.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Detroit took back-to-back penalties, but Ottawa failed to capitalize and gave up a short-handed goal on a Giroux giveaway that led to a 2-on-1 with Rasmussen beating Hunter Shepard, who gave up two goals on 12 shots.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
The Tuna King took back his crown during Monday’s buzzy pre-dawn sale, eclipsing his own record from 2019 by hundreds of thousands.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Offense coming from defense With a goal on Monday, his seventh, Jacob Trouba took back the Ducks’ lead among defensemen.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Detroit took back-to-back penalties, but Ottawa failed to capitalize and gave up a short-handed goal on a Giroux giveaway that led to a 2-on-1 with Rasmussen beating Hunter Shepard, who gave up two goals on 12 shots.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
The Tuna King took back his crown during Monday’s buzzy pre-dawn sale, eclipsing his own record from 2019 by hundreds of thousands.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
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When the steering wheel is retracted, the vehicle activates a passenger airbag integrated into the instrument panel.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Roadsters have an overall driving appeal, notably with tops retracted.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Back in June 2025, Baldoni’s team withdrew their bid to subpoena Swift, and instead successfully petitioned for access to said text exchanges.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Talankin, realizing that history was unfolding before his eyes, promptly withdrew his resignation.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa never renounced his allegiance to Al Qaeda and has ordered horrific attacks on Syrian Kurds, Druse and Bedouins to consolidate his power.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
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But no evidence suggests that Gu has renounced her American citizenship.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tehran has denied the allegations.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some of the claims by Bovino and other officials were contradicted by witnesses and video from the scene.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Bystander videos contradicted each claim, instead showing Pretti holding a cellphone and helping a woman who had been pepper sprayed by a federal officer.—
Bill Barrow,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The measure raised modest revenues, which fell as rich people moved out of the country to avoid paying, and the measure was repealed by the government of President Emmanuel Macron in 2017.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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But the current state school aid budget repealed that option.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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