retrace
verb
re·trace
(ˌ)rē-ˈtrās 
retraced; retracing
: to trace (something) again or back: such as
a
: to go over or along (something, such as a course or path) again often in a reverse direction
The hikers retraced the path back to the cabin.
… an expedition that retraced Theodore Roosevelt's route along a Brazilian river …—
Warren E. Leary
Warren E. LearyHe found his phone by retracing his steps/footsteps.
b
: to go over (something) again in memory : recall
Then she'd retrace memories of her mother, reminiscence, and find enough good things to bring joy back into her life …—Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones
c
: to discover the origin or early history of (something) by going back over previous steps
retrace (the origin of) a word to German
d
: to follow, study, or present (something) in detail or step by step
But there's also a new exhibition in the city that retraces the roots of the Italian fashion industry.—Patrick Boehler
Patrick BoehlerLet us retrace his argument.—José Eduardo González
José Eduardo González
e
: to write or draw (something, such as a letter or line) again
children tracing and retracing the alphabet
especially
: to write or draw directly over and following along (an existing line, letter, etc.)
The penciled shapes were retraced with black marker.
The challenge: Connect nine dots, arrayed in three rows of three, using four straight lines without retracing a line or lifting the pen. —Adam Piore
Adam Piore Examples of retrace in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With the assistance of Cissy’s memory, Instagram posts, a bartender, and tattoo artist, Kaya, Elsbeth, and Mac retrace Mac’s steps from the night before to piece together what happened, furnishing a timeline to fill in the sizable gaps in Mac’s memory, and, sadly, a dead body.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
So all the animators had to retrace their steps to make sure CJ’s Grove Street gang, for instance, moved differently than their rivals in purple, the Ballas.
—Ade Adeniji, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2024
The vintage train retraces its famed route inaugurated more than a century ago by Orient Express creator Georges Nagelmackers.
—Eleanor Hardy, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2024
The share price has retraced 38.2% of its 2016-2024 advance, a reasonable support level.
—Bill Sarubbi, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
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Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
So all the animators had to retrace their steps to make sure CJ’s Grove Street gang, for instance, moved differently than their rivals in purple, the Ballas.
—Ade Adeniji, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2024
The vintage train retraces its famed route inaugurated more than a century ago by Orient Express creator Georges Nagelmackers.
—Eleanor Hardy, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2024
The share price has retraced 38.2% of its 2016-2024 advance, a reasonable support level.
—Bill Sarubbi, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retrace
Dictionary Entries Near retrace
Cite this Entry
“Retrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrace. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retrace
verb
re·trace
(ˌ)rē-ˈtrās
retraced; retracing
1
: to write or draw again or directly over
retraced the letters
2
: to go over (as a route) again or in a reverse direction
3
: to follow, study, or present in detail or in steps
4
: recall
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