Bring back meaning
Bring back means to return with something, or take something back to where it was. It can also mean to make you remember something from the past.
bring somebody or something back
bring back · brought · bringing
Can you bring me back some chocolate from Belgium?
Bring back meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Return with something, or take something back to where it was
bring somebody or something back
- Can you bring me back some chocolate from Belgium?
- Please bring back the library books by Friday.
- I lent him my drill and he never brought it back.
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2
Make you remember something from the past
bring something back
- This song brings back so many memories.
- Seeing the old school brought it all back.
- Does this smell bring back your childhood?
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3
Start using an old rule, product or idea again
bring something back
- They’re bringing back the old logo next year.
- Some people want to bring back school uniforms.
- We miss that pizza. Please bring it back!
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use bring back in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is bring back separable?
Bring back is separable: bring back the books or bring the books back. With a pronoun, it goes in the middle: bring it back. With a person and a thing: bring me back a souvenir.
Bring back is for the speaker’s direction (to here). For returning something to another place, take back is usually better: Take these shoes back to the shop.
Verb tenses for bring back
| Present | I bring back · she brings back |
|---|---|
| Past | brought back |
| Present perfect | have brought back |
| -ing form | bringing back |
Common mistakes with bring back
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: You can borrow it, but bring back it tomorrow.
Right: You can borrow it, but bring it back tomorrow.
A pronoun goes between bring and back.
Wrong: This photo brings me back memories.
Right: This photo brings back memories.
For memories, the usual pattern has no person: brings back memories.
Wrong: I need to bring this jacket back to the shop.
Right: I need to take this jacket back to the shop.
When you are going away from here, use take back.
Synonyms and opposites of bring back
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- give backreturn something to its owner
- take backreturn something to the shop or place it came from
- remind someone ofmake someone think of a similar person or thing
Opposite
- get rid ofremove something you do not want any more
- take awaymove something from a place
Bring back quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1If you go to the bakery, can you ___ some bread?
Bring back means return here with something.
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2Choose the right sentence.
The pronoun goes between bring and back.
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3“That smell of pine trees brings back my summers at camp.” What does it do?
Bring back here means make you remember the past.
More phrasal verbs with bring
All phrasal verbs with bring, by level, with an exercise
7 phrasal verbs start with bring. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- bring upB2start talking about a subject
- bring aboutC1make something happen, usually a change
- bring inB2start using a new law, rule or system
- bring downB2make something lower, like prices, costs or a temperature
- bring outB2make a new product, book or album available to buy
- bring togetherB2make people meet, work together or feel closer
Bring back FAQ
Questions people ask about bring back.
What is the difference between bring back and take back?
It depends on direction. Bring back means return to where the speaker is: Bring it back here. Take back means return it somewhere else: Take it back to the shop.
What does it brings back memories mean?
It means something makes you remember things from your past, often with good feelings: Wow, this game brings back memories!
What is the past tense of bring back?
Brought back: She brought back a lovely scarf from Peru.
Use bring back in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.