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.
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.