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
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Additionally, the original research study that supported the movement was retracted.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
-
The report was retracted in a separate tweet, but that didn’t stop the internet, which never sleeps.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Indeed, Paramount+ withdrew from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland in 2022 to make way for SkyShowtime.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
After the student protests against him, Schapiro withdrew from giving his speech at Georgetown.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Beijing has never renounced the use of force to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
14 May 2026
-
Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The general director of visual arts at Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance—Mahdizadeh Tehrani— denied that the state ever withdrew from the exhibition this year, and said the country still hopes to take part in some capacity.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
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For example, don’t spend the entire conversation complaining about a past boss who denied your PTO request, McGoff says.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The affidavit stated that his version of events was contradicted by forensic evidence, per the outlets.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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The court filing also contradicted the government's previous statements on processing time.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Some countries, such as Sweden, repealed them to become more financially competitive, while others, like France, found that the superwealthy were moving their assets to other countries.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
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The directive repealed federal guidance that schools work to avoid racial disparities in school punishments.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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