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flashback

noun
flash·​back | \ ˈflash-ˌbak How to pronounce flashback (audio) \

Definition of flashback

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a recession of flame to an unwanted position (as into a blowpipe)
2a : 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

verb
flashed back; flashing back; flashes back

Definition of flash back (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The final flashback of the show’s run, though, makes clear how easy Piper has it. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Ballad of Taystee Jefferson," 31 July 2019 The motif of the flashback began to lose its power as a summoner of memory, becoming more like a technical crutch. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, "The Disappointing, Emmy-Baiting Finale of “Big Little Lies” Season 2," 22 July 2019 The flashback to this bygone era of the 1990s and earlier is unfolding this month in US District Court in Boston, where Salemme, the former New England Mafia boss, is on trial for murder. Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, "Mafia murder trial occurring now in Boston highlights how much city’s underworld has changed," 29 May 2018 The flashbacks are varied, from wide-eyed country kids on an adventure to couples on honeymoons and locals working at pavilions representing more than 30 countries from around the globe. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, "50th Anniversary of HemisFair ’68 sparks memories for visitors to venue," 6 Apr. 2018 Pace said she is devastated and is having trouble sleeping due to flashbacks of seeing her friend in the air. Michael Hebert, ajc, "College student critically injured in hit-and-run after leaving Buckhead bar," 16 July 2019 Award-winning journalist Maura Casey, a contributor to this compilation of columns by women journalists published in Connecticut newspapers from the 1950s to the present (including a flashback to 1828), will also speak. Carole Goldberg, courant.com, "Write Stuff: The sex lives of ‘Three Women’, ‘Opinionated Women’ and Edith Wharton," 11 July 2019 But when the emergency operator picks up, flashbacks of what the Mind Flayer had just done to him keep him silent. Time, "Breaking Down What Happens to Billy in Stranger Things Season 3," 4 July 2019 Curbed LA Plus, a flashback to 1986 in the aftermath of the L.A. Library fire, when a massive volunteer effort mobilized to remove 3 million books from Central Library before they were irreparably damaged. Julia Wick, latimes.com, "Essential California: A historic gang truce after Nipsey Hussle's death," 24 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flashback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of flashback

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for flashback

flashback

noun

English Language Learners Definition of flashback

: a part of a story or movie that describes or shows something that happened in the past
: a strong memory of a past event that comes suddenly into a person's mind

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