retrace
verb /rɪˈtreɪs/
/rɪˈtreɪs/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they retrace | /rɪˈtreɪs/ /rɪˈtreɪs/ |
| he / she / it retraces | /rɪˈtreɪsɪz/ /rɪˈtreɪsɪz/ |
| past simple retraced | /rɪˈtreɪst/ /rɪˈtreɪst/ |
| past participle retraced | /rɪˈtreɪst/ /rɪˈtreɪst/ |
| -ing form retracing | /rɪˈtreɪsɪŋ/ /rɪˈtreɪsɪŋ/ |
- retrace something to go back along exactly the same path or route that you have come along
- She turned around and began to retrace her steps towards the house.
- retrace something to make the same trip that somebody else has made in the past
- They are hoping to retrace the epic voyage of Christopher Columbus.
- (figurative) Her mind retraced (= remembered) the dramatic events of the previous night.
- retrace something to find out what somebody has done or where they have been
- Detectives are trying to retrace her movements on the night she disappeared.
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from French retracer.