TAKE BACK

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does take back mean? 

• TAKE BACK (verb)
  The verb TAKE BACK has 6 senses:

1. bring back to the point of departure

2. regain possession of something

3. resume a relationship with someone after an interruption, as in a wife taking back her husband

4. move text to the previous line; in printing

5. take back what one has said

6. cause someone to remember the past

  Familiarity information: TAKE BACK used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAKE BACK (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring back to the point of departure

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bring back; return; take back

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

bring; convey; take (take something or somebody with oneself somewhere)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Regain possession of something

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

repossess; take back

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

take (take into one's possession)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Resume a relationship with someone after an interruption, as in a wife taking back her husband

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

relate (have or establish a relationship to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Move text to the previous line; in printing

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Take back what one has said

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

swallow; take back; unsay; withdraw

Context example:

He swallowed his words

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

disown; renounce; repudiate (cast off)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause someone to remember the past

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

This photo takes me back to the good old days

Hypernyms (to "take back" is one way to...):

remind (put in the mind of someone)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

 Context examples 

Well, if it does him good, I'm glad, if it makes him hate me, I'm sorry, but it's true, and I can't take back a word of it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Oh! you may as well take back that tiresome book she would lend me, and pretend I have read it through.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I absolutely refuse to leave, however, until we have made at least a superficial examination of this country, and are able to take back with us something in the nature of a chart.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

What totally different feelings did Emma take back into the house from what she had brought out!—she had then been only daring to hope for a little respite of suffering;—she was now in an exquisite flutter of happiness, and such happiness moreover as she believed must still be greater when the flutter should have passed away.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

'Twere as easy to woo the snow-dame that we shaped last winter in our castle yard. I did but ask her yesternight for her green veil, that I might bear it as a token or lambrequin upon my helm; but she flashed out at me that she kept it for a better man, and then all in a breath asked pardon for that she had spoke so rudely. Yet she would not take back the words either, nor would she grant the veil. Has it seemed to thee, Alleyne, that she loves any one?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

What would I not have given to be able to crawl up to them, to peep in, and to take back some word to my comrades as to the appearance and character of the race who lived in so strange a place!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is certain also, that the brave and worthy Bertrand de Guesclin hath ridden into France to the Duke of Anjou, and purposes to take back with him great levies from Picardy and Brittany.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)