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
Justin Herbert and company opened at 3-0, then took back-to-back Ls and narrowly escaped the floundering Miami Dolphins.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2002, state officials took back $40 million for corridor planning in light of community fears that dedicated lanes would eat up space for travel and parking.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
But Utah's Republican supermajority Legislature, instead, took back redistricting power, largely nullifying the ballot initiative.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Swayman shrugged off the softy and several key stops early in the third period when the B’s took back-to-back penalties.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
AllianceBernstein took back the asset in its unfinished state from developer Stockdale Capital Partners after a public auction that garnered no bids.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
New York’s Bobby Okereke scooped it up with a chance to take it before Mahomes crashed into him and took back the ball.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
In the final, in their 5th meeting of the season, Sewing took back control of their rivalry with a 12,6 win to take the title.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Lions took back the lead in the 50th minute with a second goal from Muriel.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2002, state officials took back $40 million for corridor planning in light of community fears that dedicated lanes would eat up space for travel and parking.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
But Utah's Republican supermajority Legislature, instead, took back redistricting power, largely nullifying the ballot initiative.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Swayman shrugged off the softy and several key stops early in the third period when the B’s took back-to-back penalties.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
AllianceBernstein took back the asset in its unfinished state from developer Stockdale Capital Partners after a public auction that garnered no bids.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
New York’s Bobby Okereke scooped it up with a chance to take it before Mahomes crashed into him and took back the ball.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
In the final, in their 5th meeting of the season, Sewing took back control of their rivalry with a 12,6 win to take the title.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Lions took back the lead in the 50th minute with a second goal from Muriel.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
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The Democrat has since faced calls from Republicans to drop out of the state attorney general race, though many Democrats and his corporate donors have not retracted their support.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Oct. 2025
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Stefano Mele, husband of Barbara Locci, initially confessed to killing his wife and her lover but later retracted his statement.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The South American country withdrew visa-free access in April in response to the three countries barring Brazilian passport holders from visa-free access.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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The South African played this weekend in the PGA Tour's Bank of Utah Championship, but withdrew after the first round.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Royalist émigrés began to trickle back into the country in 1795, and a number of Jacobins who renounced their earlier radicalism were also reintegrated into civil society.—
Time,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Takaichi has called for a hardline stance towards China and is also in favor of revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, especially Article 9, which renounced Japan’s right to wage war.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 29-year-old denied former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun three times in the first half.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
David denied the allegations at the time.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dash camera video, which recorded a portion of the incident, contradicted Lesch’s statements to police, prosecutors said.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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That is, even the Pew study contradicted the claims people were making about wealthier moms being the most miserable and stressed.—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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