go back
verb
went back; gone back; going back; goes back
1
: to return to a place, activity, or situation
I forgot my phone and had to go back.
I left school but later went back.
Once you do this, there's no going back. [=you cannot undo what has been done]
2
: to have existed for a particular amount of time or since a particular period
traditions that go back to ancient times
3
: to have known each other for a particular amount of time or for a long time
We go back 30 years.
They go way back.
4
: to think or talk about something from the past
To understand, you have to go back to when it started.
see also:
Cite this Entry
“Go back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20back. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
