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

In visual terms, a lot of this material feels like flashbacks waiting to happen on a screen. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 23 Oct. 2024

The season is also set to feature flashbacks to the 1970s, telling the story of when Mel's mom met Everett. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

One episode flashes back to how Eli and Lynn met, with digital effects briefly turning Crystal and Light back into their Nineties selves. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024

While Stephen wreaks havoc in the present, the series flashes back 20 years to Catherine and Jonathan's encounter, and the effects of the boy's death on his troubled parents. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 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