Standard Lemma guide

retrace

noun · verb · 7 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.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈɹiːtɹeɪs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪs
  • /ɹiːˈtɹeɪs/
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 T R EY1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The period when the beam of the cathode-ray tube returns to its initial horizontal position in order to start the next line of the display.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: broadcasting, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An instance of retracement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To trace (a line, etc. in drawing) 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

4

verb

Meaning 4

To go back over something, usually in an attempt at rediscovery.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He retraced his steps, and found his keys where he had dropped them.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To undergo retracement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

reassemble mentally

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • reconstruct the events of 20 years ago

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reconstruct, construct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: speculate, theorize, theorise, conjecture, hypothesize, hypothesise, hypothecate, suppose

Narrower terms: etymologize, etymologise

7

verb

Meaning 7

to go back over again

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we retraced the route we took last summer
  • trace your path

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trace

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: return

History

Etymology

From French retracer, from Middle French retracier.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: проследявам (prosledjavam) — to trace again
  • German: nachvollziehen — to trace again
  • German: zurückverfolgen — to trace again
  • Interlingua: retraciar — to trace again
  • Navajo: naʼídíkééʼ — to trace again
  • Scottish Gaelic: ath-lorgaich — to trace again
  • Turkish: kaynağına inmek — to trace again
  • Turkish: kökenine inmek — to trace again
  • Woiwurrung: nook-kindan-twakin-a-â — to trace again