take back
phrasal verb·5 senses·particle back
Meanings
Reclaim something you gave
Why “back”? Something returns to an earlier state.
“She took back the ring after the break-up.”
“He took back the bike he had lent to Sam.”
“He took back the book he'd lent her.”
Retract a statement
Why “back”? Back creates distance or reduces progress. The change can affect a place, position, amount, promise, or plan.
“I take back everything I said.”
“She took back her rude comment.”
“You should take that comment back and apologise.”
Carry something back to where it came from
Why “back”? A person, thing, message, or idea returns to an earlier place, person, or time.
“Maya took a damaged bag back to the shop during the shopping trip.”
“Maya took a damaged kettle back to the shop that afternoon.”
“I took the jacket back to the store.”
Make someone remember a past time vividly
“That song takes me back.”
“The smell of chalk took her back.”
“This street takes me back to my childhood.”
Re-employ or accept a person again
“His wife took him back.”
“The team took the striker back after his apology.”
Don't confuse with
Take back means reclaim something you gave. Take over means assume control of something.
Take back means reclaim something you gave. Take away means remove something from a place.
Take back means re-employ or accept a person again. Take up means accept an offered opportunity.
Test yourself
“She took back the ring after the break-up.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
take away
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from a place; Buy food to eat elsewhere; Subtract a number; Learn or remember an important idea from an experience
take on
A contrast learners often mix up
Accept a responsibility or challenge; Employ new staff; Compete against
take over
A contrast learners often mix up
Assume control of something; Become more powerful or dominant; Briefly do a task that another person has been doing
take up
A contrast learners often mix up
Start a new hobby or activity; Occupy space or time; Accept an offered opportunity; Resume something after a pause or interruption; Shorten a piece of clothing by adjusting its hem
bounce back
Same back pattern: normal again
Become well, happy, or successful again after a problem
bring back
Same back pattern: return
Return with someone or something to the original place; Cause memories to return to the mind; Reintroduce a custom, law or product
call back
Same back pattern: return
Return a phone call; Try the phone call again; Recall a product because of a fault
come back
Same back pattern: return
Return to a place; Become popular or fashionable again; Be remembered after being forgotten
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