Phrase guide

flash 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

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.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To recall or remember something; to experience a flashback.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

return in time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the film cut back to an earlier event in the story

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cut back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: return

History

Etymology

Denominal verb of flashback.