Phrase guide

bring back

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈbɹɪŋ bæk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To fetch something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, transitive

Examples

  • I brought back the groceries.
  • If you're going to the store, could you bring me back some chocolate?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause someone to remember something from the past.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The smell of the magnolia brought back sweet memories of my childhood.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To reenact an old rule or law.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • In the UK it is customary to hold a vote every few years on whether to bring back the death penalty.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To revive, to resurrect; to cause something dead to be alive once again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

return to consciousness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • These pictures bring back sad memories

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bring to, bring round, bring around

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: awaken, wake, waken, rouse, wake up, arouse

Narrower terms: resuscitate, revive

6

verb

Meaning 6

bring back to the point of departure

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: return, take back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bring, convey, take

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: rekonduki — to fetch something
  • Esperanto: reporti — to fetch something
  • French: ramener — to fetch something
  • French: rapporter — to fetch something
  • Latin: referō — to fetch something
  • Tagalog: ibalik — to fetch something
  • French: ramener — to cause to remember something from the past
  • French: faire revenir — to reenact an old rule or law
  • French: ramener — to revive something dead
  • Swahili: fufua — to revive something dead