# retrace one's steps

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/retrace-ones-steps
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To return to a place one has been to before.

## Examples

- I lost my keys, so I must retrace my steps.
- After realizing his wallet was missing, he had to retrace his steps through the park to find where he dropped it.
- The detective decided to retrace his steps through the dark, winding alleyway, hoping to discover the vital clue he had overlooked earlier that evening.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.