go back

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	go back
he/she/it	goes back
present participle	going back
past tense	went back
past participle	gone back

1
intransitive to return to a person, place, subject, or activity
It started to rain, so we decided to go back.
go back to:
We didn’t think he’d go back to his wife after everything that’s happened.
I’d like to go back to what Abby was saying just a minute ago.
She should be well enough to go back to work on Wednesday.
go back to doing something:
The computer breaks down and you go back to writing things down on pieces of paper.
go back for:
I’d left my keys in the office and had to go back for them.
Synonyms and related words
To return, or to return something to a place
return
get back
go back
2
intransitive/transitive to have existed since or for a particular time
My interest in the subject goes back many years.
go back to:
Some of these houses go back to the early 19th century.
Synonyms and related words
To continue for a particular amount of time
last
extend
go back
1. 2a
  transitive spokenif two people go back a particular period of time, they have known each other for that period of time
  We go back a long time, don’t we?
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe relations and relationships
  acquainted
  a hungry mouth (to feed)
  an old friend/ally/enemy etc
3
intransitive Britishwhen schools or students go back, classes begin again after a long holiday
When do the kids go back?
Synonyms and related words
Attendance and non-attendance at school or university
absence
absenteeism
attend
4
intransitive Britishwhen the clocks go back, everyone changes the time on their clocks so that they show a time that is one hour earlier than before
Don’t forget, the clocks go back this Sunday.
Synonyms and related words
Using clocks and watches
clock in
clock off
go back