to bring something you bought or borrowed back to the place you got it from, usually because you don't want it or it doesn't work.
I had to take back the shoes because they were too small.
A: Did you keep the blender you bought? B: No, I took it back. It was broken when I opened the box.
If I buy something and it doesn't fit, I usually take it back to the store for a refund or exchange.
Common mistake
✗I want to take back it.
✓I want to take it back.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'take it back'.
Tell it apart
I took the jacket back.
returned the item
I take back what I said.
retract words — sense
Use 'take back' when you return something to the place or person you got it from, especially shops.'Bring back' means to bring something with you to a place, but 'take back' focuses on returning it to where it came from.
to admit that something you said was wrong or hurtful and say you no longer mean it.
He realized he was wrong and took back what he said.
A: I can't believe you called me lazy! B: I'm sorry, I take it back. I was just upset.
Sometimes people say things they regret, but it's important to take back your words and apologize if you hurt someone.
Common mistake
✗I want to take back my words back.
✓I take back what I said.
Don't double 'back'; with a pronoun, 'take it back'.
Tell it apart
I take it back.
withdraw what I said
I'll take it back to the shop.
return the item — sense
Use 'take back' when you want to apologize for something you said and say you didn't mean it.'Take back' is about words or statements, not physical objects.
to cause someone to remember or feel as if they are in a time in the past, often because of a particular sight, sound, or smell.
The smell of freshly baked bread always takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen.
A: Wow, this song really takes me back. B: Yeah, it reminds me of our school days.
Hearing traditional music can take people back to their cultural roots and evoke a strong sense of identity.
Common mistake
✗This photo takes back me to school.
✓This photo takes me back to school.
The person goes in the middle: 'takes me back'.
Tell it apart
That song takes me back.
brings back memories
I take it back — I was wrong.
retract what I said — sense
'Take back' in this sense is used to talk about something (like a song, smell, or place) that makes you remember or feel as if you are in the past. It is neutral in register and common in both spoken and written English.Unlike the B1 sense of physically returning an item or the B2 sense of retracting words, this sense is figurative and refers to memories or feelings being brought back by something.