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
Almost serendipitously, however, was a trip that AJ and Kristina took back home to Charlotte to visit AJ’s mother.
—
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 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
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
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
-
But the flip side of love for a brand is hate and woe when customers feel betrayed—when the service falls short or a beloved perk is retracted.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
As the bird's rescue team watched with anticipation, the aviary roof slowly retracted, prompting the owl to fly straight up into the sky.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Less than a week later, the UA withdrew the offer.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
29 May 2026
-
Historians say the original Liberty Pole was erected as British forces withdrew from New York following their defeat in the Revolutionary War, a symbolic act meant to assert American independence and taunt departing troops.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
She’s since voted to block military aid to Israel and renounced the group.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
-
The former monarch renounced her title in January 2024 on the 52nd anniversary of her accession.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The governors, Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal Anaya of Tamaulipas, denied any wrongdoing and called accusations against them an attempt to undermine Mexican sovereignty.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Mullin denied the accusations, saying said his agency was not racist.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The observation contradicted the normal tendency of mixed materials to remain blended.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
Shortly after, Erika Christakis, associate head of one of Yale’s residential colleges, contradicted the email.—
Ingrid A. Nelson,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is promising a replacement ordinance for the conversion therapy ban the City Council recently repealed.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
Late last year, New Hampshire repealed its PDAB, which had existed since 2020.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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