hearken back

verb

variants or harken back
hearkened back or harkened back; hearkening back or harkening back; hearkens back or harkens back

intransitive verb

: to go back to or recall to mind something in the past : hark back
usually used with to
This place caters to Americans and hearkens back to days when the town attracted famous celebrities.Barbara Zaragoza
Greenberg worked very closely with the laboratory which harkened back to his earliest days in the film business …Ron Magid

Examples of hearken back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Meanwhile, Wakim’s moment in the spotlight proved why the featured player is worth keeping around, as his humor was not only biting, but incisive in a way that hearkened back to Update anchor Norm MacDonald. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025 Attorneys for Michael Madigan opened their final bid to persuade jurors of his innocence by hearkening back to a memorable nickname for the former speaker: the Sphinx. Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 This wobbly start to the new government hearkens back to old and deeply rooted divisions about the character of the post-World War II German state. Mark I. Vail, The Conversation, 16 May 2025 Tie-dye is a creative way to add a splash of color to your wardrobe or hearken back to the flower power fashion of the 1960s. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hearken back

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hearken back was in 1900

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Cite this Entry

“Hearken back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearken%20back. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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