flash·back
ˈflash-ˌbak 
1
: a recession of flame to an unwanted position (as into a blowpipe)
2
a
: 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
flashed back; flashing back; flashes back
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.
Verb
the scent made me flash back to the days of my mother's home-cooked Sunday dinners
Recent Examples on the Web
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
The whodunit's central mystery is also half-baked: the death of Wynter is as bland as Esposito's character is in flashbacks.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
The Star’s Sam McDowell detailed how Kelce nearly quit football but came back with the help of his older brother, Jason.
Kelce’s mind flashed back to that incident shortly after the Chiefs defeated the Bills 32-29 on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flashback
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Noun
The singer still has war flashbacks to her surprise Hot Ones experience on The Tonight Show in 2019, but having him by her side for her first official appearance on the viral show made all the difference.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
The whodunit's central mystery is also half-baked: the death of Wynter is as bland as Esposito's character is in flashbacks.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
It’s set in the present but several interstitial chapters flash back to the ‘80s and ’90s, when the women were getting their start as ruthless-but-funny contract killers.
—Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
The Star’s Sam McDowell detailed how Kelce nearly quit football but came back with the help of his older brother, Jason.
Kelce’s mind flashed back to that incident shortly after the Chiefs defeated the Bills 32-29 on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flashback
Cite this Entry
“Flashback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flashback. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flashback
noun
flash·back
ˈflash-ˌbak
1
: the introduction of a past event into a story or motion picture
also
: this past event
2
: a past incident recurring clearly in the mind
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