take back - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

take back (third-person singular simple present takes back, present participle taking back, simple past took back, past participle taken back)

  1. (transitive) To retract or withdraw (an earlier statement).
    Synonyms: recant, unsay; see also Thesaurus:recant
    No, you are not fat; I take it all back.
  2. (transitive) To cause (someone) to remember some past event or time.
    That tune takes me back to my childhood.
  3. (transitive) To resume a relationship with (someone).
    She has forgiven him, and taken him back.
  4. (transitive) To regain possession of (something).
    1. Physically so.
      Synonym: reclaim
      The wedding is off, and he has taken back the ring.
    2. Culturally so.
      Synonyms: reappropriate, reclaim
      The Queer community took back the word from their disparagers.
  5. (transitive) To return (something) to a vendor for a refund.
    Take back faulty goods to the shop where you bought them.

retract an earlier statement

to regain possession of something

to return something to a vendor for a refund