as in withdrawing
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 taking back
Adding scientists to the corps in the late 1960s, and deliberately recruiting women and Black astronauts in the 1970s, were widely hailed as steps the agency was taking back then towards diversity.
—
Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 June 2026
Democrats can win again by taking back the middle.
—NBC news, 31 May 2026
But with the Lightning taking back home-ice advantage with this win and the series shifting back to Tampa, where Cooper will have full control of the matchup, the task becomes that much more difficult for the Suzuki line.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
An opposition party taking back control of the government would likely see the abandonment of a warming of relations with Israel and the West more broadly.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
San Francisco has won five of its last seven games overall, taking back-to-back series for the first time under rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The clock is ticking on November’s midterm elections, and Democrats’ chances of taking back the Senate are improving.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
The funds were reportedly credited to the account and later withdrawn; however, the bank reversed the transaction after determining the check was fraudulent, taking back the museum’s money.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
All that has raised the hopes of Democrats about taking back both the House AND the Senate this year.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 10 June 2026
Democrats can win again by taking back the middle.
—NBC news, 31 May 2026
But with the Lightning taking back home-ice advantage with this win and the series shifting back to Tampa, where Cooper will have full control of the matchup, the task becomes that much more difficult for the Suzuki line.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
An opposition party taking back control of the government would likely see the abandonment of a warming of relations with Israel and the West more broadly.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
San Francisco has won five of its last seven games overall, taking back-to-back series for the first time under rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
The clock is ticking on November’s midterm elections, and Democrats’ chances of taking back the Senate are improving.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
The funds were reportedly credited to the account and later withdrawn; however, the bank reversed the transaction after determining the check was fraudulent, taking back the museum’s money.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
All that has raised the hopes of Democrats about taking back both the House AND the Senate this year.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking back
Verb
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After battling through injury during Saturday's third round at the RBC Canadian Open, Brooks Koepka opted not to give it a go in the final round, ultimately withdrawing from the PGA Tour event on Sunday morning.—
Mark Harris,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
This is because Roth IRAs allow withdrawals of your contributions penalty-free (there are, however, stipulations for withdrawing earnings).—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a recall notice that the seat belts in certain Expedition and Lincoln vehicles may inadvertently lock, preventing the belt from retracting or extending.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
The Salton Sea has been retracting as the climate has become hotter, leaving behind pesticides and fertilizers in toxic dust from the multibillion-dollar local agricultural industry that blow through our communities, contributing to the asthma crisis facing our children.—
Daniela Flores,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Corbett, of Palatine, announced his independent candidacy days after renouncing the current state of the Republican Party and dropping his consulting business work with GOP contenders.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2026
-
The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Council members narrowly passed the ordinance repealing the ban by a 7-5 vote, with some voting against the measure as a form of protest.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
And yet, Mamdani found time to talk about the Knicks’ playoff run, including repealing bedtime so children could watch the NBA Finals.—
David Ingber,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
There’s no denying the enduring glamour of this grande dame, whose secluded locale at the tip of the Cap is as much a draw for the jet set as the intimate cabanas where Greta Garbo once retreated and the saltwater infinity pool carved into the cliffs.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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There’s no denying that the Sym TTLBT competes in the premium maxi-scooter segment against the likes of the Kymco AK 550i, Yamaha TMax, and the Honda Forza 750.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
But his head coach, Mitch Johnson, had a contradicting statement about the situation.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
Iran claimed on Thursday that damage to Kuwait’s airport was caused by a malfunctioning US Patriot missile, contradicting Kuwait’s assertion that an Iranian drone struck the facility a day earlier.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20back. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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