harken back
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To go back in your mind to an older time, idea, or tradition.
Literal meaning: To listen back — 'hearken' means to listen carefully; the combination with 'back' is etymologically mixed.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To be reminiscent of an earlier time or style; to deliberately invoke something from the past.
"Her fashion choices harken back to the glamour of old Hollywood."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Widely used in American English as a variant of 'hark back'. Considered non-standard by some prescriptive grammarians, but accepted in informal and journalistic writing. Almost always followed by 'to'. Functionally identical to 'hark back' in modern usage.
Commonly used with
earlier times tradition roots original past era
Forms
Base
harken back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
harkens back
he/she/it
Past simple
harkened back
yesterday
Past participle
harkened back
have + pp
-ing form
harkening back
continuous
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