phrasal verb · neutral

go back

UK/ɡəʊ bæk/US/ɡoʊ bæk/go·BACK

speakingtask2

to return to a place or to a previous state

Examples

I need to go back to school to pick up my certificate.

This policy goes back to the 1990s.

She went back to the original plan after the meeting.

Band 8 sentence

After two years abroad, he went back to his hometown to support his aging parents.

Collocations

  • go back to + place/time/idea
  • go back home
  • go back on (a promise)

Word family

go back verbgoes back verbgoing back verbwent back verb (past)gone back past participle

Common mistakes

I will go back at 6 pm.I will go back at 6 p.m.

He went back on his word.He went back on his word.

Say it for a higher band

5come back6return7+go back

Synonyms

return

revert

Easily confused

return

She decided to return to her hometown after university.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In go …

Learn it with its set