Phrase guide

date back

verb · 2 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To have begun at a particular time; for there to be records of something extending to a time in history.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • This tradition dates back 1000 years.
  • The fossils date back to the Precambrian eon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

belong to an earlier time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This story dates back 200 years

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go back, date from

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: originate, initiate, start

Narrower terms: ascend

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 追溯 (zhuīsù) — Translations
  • Dutch: teruggaan tot — Translations
  • French: remonter — Translations
  • German: zurückgehen — Translations
  • Italian: risalire — Translations
  • Japanese: 遡る (sakanoboru) — Translations
  • Portuguese: remontar — Translations
  • Romanian: data — Translations
  • Spanish: remontarse — Translations
  • Spanish: datar — Translations