double back
B1 neutral intransitive
In simple words
To go back the same way you just came, often to correct a mistake or avoid something.
Literal meaning: To fold back on itself — like doubling a piece of paper back over itself.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To reverse direction and travel back along the same route, often because you missed something or went the wrong way.
"We realised we'd missed the turning, so we had to double back two kilometres."
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To deliberately retrace a route in order to mislead a pursuer or check for surveillance.
"The spy doubled back through the market to make sure nobody was following her."
Usage notes
Often used in the context of navigation, hiking, military manoeuvres, or escape. Can also describe an animal or person trying to evade pursuit.
Commonly used with
path road route tracks trail forest
Forms
Base
double back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
doubles back
he/she/it
Past simple
doubled back
yesterday
Past participle
doubled back
have + pp
-ing form
doubling back
continuous
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