take back

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verb

   To say that something you said earlier was wrong or unfair and to withdraw it, usually with an apology.

   Grammar: Takes an object, which can go before or after back: take your words back, take back your words.

   Patterns

   • take back something
   • take something back

   I was angry when I called you lazy, and I take it back.

   She wished she could take back the cruel joke the moment it left her mouth.

   He refused to take back his accusation, even after seeing the evidence.

2. 2verbphrasal verb

   To accept something again after it was given, sold or lent, for example when a customer returns an item.

   Grammar: Takes an object: the shop took the shoes back. A pronoun object must go before back: take them back.

   Patterns

   • take something back
   • take someone back

   The store will take back any unopened item within thirty days.

   After the quarrel, she did not take him back for months.

   The landlord agreed to take back the old furniture.

3. 3verbphrasal verb

   To carry or bring something or someone to the place where it came from or where it belongs.

   Grammar: Takes an object plus a place: take the book back to the library.

   Patterns

   • take something back to somewhere
   • take someone back home

   I need to take these boots back to the shop because they are too tight.

   Dad took us back to the hotel after the concert.

   Please take your plates back to the kitchen.

4. 4verbphrasal verbinformal

   To make someone remember an earlier time in their life, often a happy one.

   Grammar: The object is the person remembering, and it goes between take and back: this song takes me back.

   Patterns

   • something takes someone back
   • something takes someone back to something

   The smell of fresh bread takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen.

   Looking at these old photos really takes her back.

   That old cartoon theme tune takes us all back to our childhood Saturdays.

Word forms

Common combinations

take back what you said

Take back what you said about my sister right now.

take back an insult

He was quick to take back the insult once he saw her face.

take something back to the store

I'm going to take the lamp back to the store tomorrow.

take back control

The town voted to take back control of its water supply.

take someone back (to a time)

This melody takes me back to my school days.

take back the night

The march was organized to take back the night and make streets safer.

Synonyms and how they differ

retract

Retract is more formal and is the usual word for withdrawing a published or official statement, while take back suits everyday talk.

withdraw

Withdraw is formal and also covers offers, applications and money, whereas take back is mostly about words or returned goods.

return

Return only means to send or bring an item back, and it lacks the sense of unsaying a remark.

recall

Recall can mean to ask for a faulty product to be sent back, and it is more official than take back.

Opposites

Word family

takeback noun

an act of reclaiming something, as in a takeback program for old electronics

give back verb

to return something to its owner

bring back verb

to return with something, or to revive a memory

retract verb

to formally withdraw a statement or offer

Commonly confused: take back or take aback?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “take back”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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