v.1. To return or revert to something: I'd never go back to that restaurant after the awful meal we had. After lunch, I went back home and slept. The children go back to school in the fall. That book needs to go back to the library.
2. To reverse direction: We were going to drive across the bridge, but it was so windy, we decided to go back.
3. go back to To resume some activity: After looking around, the deer went back to eating. I turned off my alarm and went back to sleep.
4. go back to To return one's attention to something; refer to something: Let's go back to an interesting comment you made earlier. If we go back to her earlier books, you can see how her style has changed.
5. To consider or refer to some past time, especially in a narrative: In chapter four, the book goes back to the main character's childhood.
6. To have existed since some time; date back: This house goes back to the 1800s. That idea goes back to Thomas Aquinas.
7. To have been acquainted for some period of time: We're old friends—we go back at least 20 years. He and I go way back—we used to play together as children.
8. go back on To fail to carry out some promise or commitment: I hope you don't go back on your promise to help me out.
9. go back on To claim that something said earlier is untrue; retract or take back something: The witness went back on his story when the lawyer questioned him. The researcher said she would not go back on her original claim.