Phrasal verb
look back at sth
Definition
phrasal verb. To think about something that happened in your past. You often do this to remember or evaluate it.
phrasal verb. A transitive phrasal verb meaning to reflect on or remember a past event, period, or experience.
Examples
“I look back at my childhood fondly.”
“When she looks back at her first year in business, she can't believe how much she learned.”
“Historians looking back at the 20th century often struggle to comprehend the sheer scale of its technological and social transformations.”
Examples
simple
“I look back at my childhood fondly.”
contextual
“When she looks back at her first year in business, she can't believe how much she learned.”
complex
“Historians looking back at the 20th century often struggle to comprehend the sheer scale of its technological and social transformations.”
Usage
Often followed by a noun phrase representing a period of time or a significant event.
Teaching tip
Contrast with the intransitive 'look back', which can mean to physically turn one's head or to reflect generally without a specified object.
Pitfall
He looked back his life.
He looked back at his life.
The preposition 'at' is required to connect the verb to the object of reflection.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back at
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
look + back + at + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/look-back-at-sth