Flashback
'flæʃbæk
Definitions
2 meaningsA sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past, typically experienced by someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or in a movie or book to show the past.
'flæʃbæk
A sudden and vivid memory of the past
She suffered from flashbacks of the accident.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're watching a movie, and suddenly the scene jumps to a memory from the character's past. That's a flashback! It's like your brain rewinds the tape of your life for a moment.
👶 For kids: It's like your brain shows you a quick movie of something that happened a long time ago.
More Examples
The movie used flashbacks to explain the character's motivations.
After the traumatic event, he experienced frequent flashbacks.
The psychologist helped her cope with the flashbacks.
How It's Used
"The trauma caused by the war resulted in frequent flashbacks."
"The novel used flashbacks to reveal the protagonist's childhood experiences."
To experience a sudden and vivid memory of the past.
'flæʃbæk
To experience a sudden and vivid memory of the past
He often flashbacks to his childhood adventures.
💡 Simply: If you suddenly remember something really vividly, like a movie reel playing in your mind, you're 'flashbacking' to it.
👶 For kids: When your brain suddenly shows you a quick movie of a memory.
More Examples
The protagonist flashbacks to the moment of the betrayal.
Sometimes, when I smell cinnamon, I flashback to my grandmother's kitchen.
As he closed his eyes, he began to flashback to the night of the accident.
How It's Used
"I often flashback to that summer I spent at the beach."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
flashback sequence
A series of scenes in a film or story that show events from the past.
"The movie's flashback sequence was beautifully filmed and added depth to the story."
Coined in the mid-20th century, likely originating in the film industry to describe a scene depicting events from the past.
The term gained popularity in the mid-20th century, especially within the context of film and literature where it was utilized as a narrative technique.
Memory tip
Think of a bright flash, a sudden illumination of a past event in your mind.
Word Origin
"A sudden return to a previous moment in time."