TOOK BACK Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

took back

verb

past tense of take back

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of took back Croatia took back possession to continue its offensive press but struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities. — Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026 Some of the companies hit hardest by selling Tuesday took back some of those losses before the market opened. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back

Verb

Over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a positive lettuce test, then retracted it a day later as a false positive.

— Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Anthony Volpe had to defend his character after the team’s play-by-play man, Michael Kay, retracted unfounded claims about the shortdtop’s unwillingness to play second base.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026

Definition of retracted

Verb

China declared a unilateral ceasefire on November 21 and withdrew from the eastern sector behind the McMahon Line while retaining about 14,700 square miles (38,000 square km) of territory in Aksai Chin.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026
In July, after the planning commission recommended against rezoning, the developer withdrew its request days before the village board vote.

— Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of withdrew

Verb

In 2021, Princess Mako, the niece of the emperor and eldest child of Crown Prince Ashikino and Crown Princess Kiko, renounced her royal titles and left the imperial family in order to marry her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
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.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of renounced

Verb

The Tate brothers have also denied the charges in the cases in Romania.

— Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 19 July 2026
The Tate brothers have consistently denied allegations of abuse and human trafficking, claiming that violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Definition of denied

Verb

Numerous analysts, conservative and liberal, have contradicted these assertions.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2026
But that version of events, reported by some news outlets, began unraveling when bystander videos contradicted accounts painting the immigrant as a villain, the officers as victims.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 2026