go back

British  

verb

1. to return

2. (often foll by to) to originate (in)

   the links with France go back to the Norman Conquest

3. (foll by on) to change one's mind about; repudiate (esp in the phrase go back on one's word )

4. (of clocks and watches) to be set to an earlier time, as during British Summer Time

   when do the clocks go back this year?

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go back Idioms  

1. Return, retrace one's steps; also, return to a former condition. For example, I'm going back to the haunts of my youth , or We want to go back to the old way of doing things . [First half of 1500s]

2. Extend backward in space or time, as in Our land goes back to the stone wall , or The family name goes back to Norman times . [Second half of 1600s] Also see go back on .

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Example Sentences

They bought him a ticket to go back home to Oklahoma City, and told him he’d be traveling under a pseudonym because his name had been leaked to the media.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

As for travel, you can try group trips and, if you don’t like them, you don’t have to go back.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

“Once you fail, you have to go back and start over. If you pass certain parts, it doesn’t count the second go around.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

"We go back to the late 60s when I first met him," added Iommi.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“They just said for all the kids to go back out to the lobby, to start our activities,” she said.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• renege