1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To suddenly and vividly recall or experience a past memory, often involuntarily.
"The smell of gunpowder made him flash back to his time in the war."
flash back
B2 neutral intransitive
For the mind or a narrative to suddenly return to an earlier time or memory.
In plain English
To suddenly remember something from the past very vividly, or for a story to jump back to an earlier moment.
What does "flash back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
In a narrative (film, novel, TV show), to return to an earlier scene or point in time.
"In the opening chapter, the story flashes back to the character's difficult childhood."
“
The film flashes back to 1942 in its most powerful sequence.
— Common critical language in film reviews; widely used in publications such as The Guardian and The New York Times
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
A flash (sudden bright image) going backward in time — back to an earlier moment.
Actually means
To suddenly remember something from the past very vividly, or for a story to jump back to an earlier moment.
Usage tip
Used in two main contexts: psychological (involuntary vivid memories, especially in trauma/PTSD) and narrative (in film, TV, and literature when the story returns to an earlier event). The noun 'flashback' is very common. 'Flash back to' takes a prepositional phrase.
Words that pair with "flash back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
childhood memory scene war past traumatic event
How to conjugate "flash back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
flash back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flashes back
he/she/it
Past simple
flashed back
yesterday
Past participle
flashed back
have + pp
-ing form
flashing back
continuous
Hear "flash back" in the wild
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Other ways to say "flash back"
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Keep exploring
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