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.
The site hearkens back to Florida roadside attractions of the past but offers plenty of present-day opportunities for animal encounters amid a backdrop of tropical foliage. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Michelle hearkened back to her White House-era style in a sheath dress that wouldn’t have looked out of place in her first lady wardrobe. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 24 June 2026 Veterans of Chicago’s 1960’s blues scene, Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop made music that hearkened back even further to the blues’ rural southern roots. Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026 The ad begins by hearkening back to Wahls' introduction to the political scene as a 19-year-old, showing video of his speech on the Iowa House floor defending his two mothers' right to marry. Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 4 May 2026 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 5 Jul. 2026.

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