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
The average retail price to fill up hasn't been this high since August 2022 when Republicans were relentless in their focus on gas prices and successfully took back Congress, stalling the rest of former President Joe Biden's agenda.
—
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rebound on Wall Street, as South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Against the odds, Ukraine managed to repel the initial Russian attack on Kyiv and, within a few months, took back large swaths of land originally seized by Moscow.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Hanover took back the lead, and then Kaden Domino cut it back to two for the Clippers after a steal by TreChaun Days near their basket.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
The party is hoping for a similar blue wave to 2018, when Democrats took back a majority in the House from Republicans.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Republicans took back the state House, ending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan and opening a door to more cash-for-jobs deal scrutiny.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in the season, Teti hinted that Paul took back at least one rose she’d already handed out.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
As part of the agreement that included NFL Network shifting to ESPN, the league took back four games.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Shares advanced in Asia on Thursday after a rebound on Wall Street, as South Korea’s Kospi took back much of its historic losses from a day earlier.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Against the odds, Ukraine managed to repel the initial Russian attack on Kyiv and, within a few months, took back large swaths of land originally seized by Moscow.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Hanover took back the lead, and then Kaden Domino cut it back to two for the Clippers after a steal by TreChaun Days near their basket.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
The party is hoping for a similar blue wave to 2018, when Democrats took back a majority in the House from Republicans.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took back
Verb
-
Those words probably should have been retracted.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Amnesty said Mohammadi denied the charges and retracted his confessions in court, saying they were extracted under torture.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the face of growing opposition generated in part by allegations of his misconduct, Gaetz withdrew.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In the south, Lebanese Army tanks withdrew as Israeli ones rolled in.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Should the chain of citizenship break somewhere along the line, however, where an ancestor renounced their citizenship, rights to Canadian citizenship end there.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The German Jews were the founders of American Reform Judaism, which renounced dietary laws, bar mitzvahs, and Zionism.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During a court hearing Wednesday morning, Davis' attorney, Simon Steckel, filed a motion to dismiss, which the judge denied.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Hernandez denied any knowledge or responsibility for what went on at the house.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The defense attorneys sought to show that testimony from officers on scene that day contradicted their own body camera footage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Being contradicted by the facts can produce diverse reactions.—
Deana L. Weibel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That portion of the bill addressing proprietary business information will automatically be repealed on July 1, 2033.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This is why then-President Richard Nixon signed an order mandating a 55 mph national speed limit in 1974, something Congress repealed only in 1995.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20back. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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