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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
-
Those words probably should have been retracted.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Amnesty said Mohammadi denied the charges and retracted his confessions in court, saying they were extracted under torture.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The streaming giant’s stock price doesn’t yet reflect it, but analysts’ uniformly positive reaction is perhaps the biggest vote of confidence by the Street since Netflix last month withdrew its proposal to acquire Warner Bros.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The wars in Iran and Ukraine will be top of the agenda, while South Africa, which was supposed to attend as an observing nation, says France withdrew its G7 invitation after the US threatened to boycott.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The German Jews were the founders of American Reform Judaism, which renounced dietary laws, bar mitzvahs, and Zionism.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
-
China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to take the island under its control.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The army has denied targeting the medical facility, which is in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
After asking him to model courage, and to be the container of everyone’s hope—and after so many of Rozos’s peers loudly cheered him on—NYU denied Rozos their diploma.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iranian state media, however, contradicted the president's account of conversations, saying that Washington and Tehran have not held direct or indirect talks.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Taylor told The Bee last summer that his 30-year track record as a coach contradicted claims of bullying behavior.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That portion of the bill addressing proprietary business information will automatically be repealed on July 1, 2033.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This is why then-President Richard Nixon signed an order mandating a 55 mph national speed limit in 1974, something Congress repealed only in 1995.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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