flashback

1 of 2

noun

flash·​back ˈflash-ˌbak 

1

: a recession of flame to an unwanted position (as into a blowpipe)

2

a

: interruption of chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) by interjection of events of earlier occurrence

also : an instance of flashback

b

: a past incident recurring vividly in the mind

flash back

2 of 2

verb

flashed back; flashing back; flashes back

intransitive verb

1

: to focus one's mind on or vividly remember a past time or incident

—usually used with to

flashed back to my childhood

2

: to employ a flashback (as in a film)

—usually used with to

Synonyms

Verb

• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• mind [chiefly dialect]
• recall
• recollect
• remember
• reminisce (about)
• reproduce
• think (of)

Examples of flashback in a Sentence

Noun

The character's childhood was described in a series of flashbacks.

He's having flashbacks of his days in the war.

Verb

the scent made me flash back to the days of my mother's home-cooked Sunday dinners

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some have pointed out that this is a flashback of sorts to Kojima’s previous Laughing Beauty photo mode in Metal Gear Solid 4. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

But then, in flashback, Madden plays the much nicer Leo, who was the first of the two brothers to fall for Penelope. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024

Verb

Towards the end of the episode, the series flashes back to Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu’s high school days. —Regina Kim, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024

From there, the episode flashes back in time, and the audience witnesses the inflection points leading to this moment. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

flashback

noun

flash·​back ˈflash-ˌbak 

1

: the introduction of a past event into a story or motion picture

also : this past event

2

: a past incident recurring clearly in the mind