look back on — remember the past
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To think about or remember something that happened in the past, often with a particular feeling or reflection.
Say it like a native
Textbook I reflect with fondness upon my childhood years.
Native I look back on my childhood really fondly.
'Look back on' is natural; 'reflect with fondness upon' is literary.
Pattern: look back on + noun/gerund
In use
- When I look back on my school days, I feel proud of how much I learned.daily life
- In my opinion, it's important to look back on our achievements so we can appreciate how far we've come.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I look back my school days.
✓ I look back on my school days.
Don't drop 'on' — 'look back ON something'.
Common collocations
look back on— on, fondly, those days, my time
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'look back', which can mean to physically turn around. 'Look back on' is about remembering.