online vocabulary.com

Flashback - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A flashback is a scene in a story that interrupts the present action to show events from the past, helping to explain characters or plot developments. It is commonly used in literature and film.

flashback

/ˈflæʃˌbæk/ /ˈflɑːʃˌbæk/

Definition:

A sudden vivid memory of a past event, often triggered by a current experience.

Synonyms:

recollection, reminiscence, memory

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

foresight, anticipation

Common Collocations:

traumatic flashback, sudden flashback, vivid flashback

Derivatives:

flashbacks, flashing back

Usage Tips:

Use "flashback" to describe an involuntary memory interrupting the present moment, often in narratives or trauma discussions.

Common Phrases:

flashback sequence, have a flashback, trigger a flashback

Etymology:

From "flash" (sudden light) + "back" (past), first used in early 20th century psychology and cinema.

Examples:

  • 1. The movie included a dramatic flashback to the character's childhood.
  • 2. She had a sudden flashback of the accident when she heard screeching tires.
  • 3. His story began with a flashback to his college days.
  • 4. The therapist helped her cope with recurring flashbacks from the war.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS