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."
inseparable
harken back
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
A variant of 'hark back': to refer to or evoke something from the past.
In plain English
To go back in your mind to an older time, idea, or tradition.
What does "harken back" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To listen back — 'hearken' means to listen carefully; the combination with 'back' is etymologically mixed.
Actually means
To go back in your mind to an older time, idea, or tradition.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "harken back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
earlier times tradition roots original past era
How to conjugate "harken back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "harken back" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "harken back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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