rewind

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /riˈwaɪnd/ UK /ˌriːˈwaɪnd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to wind back to an earlier point, especially in a recording or film

He hit the button to rewind the tape and watch the scene again.
2

verb
to return to an earlier time or state

If I could rewind my life, I would make different choices.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to wind back to an earlier... reversebacktrackroll backgo backwind back

2 verb · to return to an earlier... replayrevisitrelivego overlook back

Opposites

fast-forwardadvance

Etymology

From the prefix re- ('again') + wind ('to roll, turn'), echoing Latin revolvere ('to roll back'); via Old English rewindan and Middle English rewinden to Modern English rewind ('to wind back, especially tape or film').

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# rewind

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /riˈwaɪnd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌriːˈwaɪnd/

## Meanings
1. to wind back to an earlier point, especially in a recording or film
2. to return to an earlier time or state

## Examples
- He hit the button to rewind the tape and watch the scene again.
- If I could rewind my life, I would make different choices.

## Synonyms
- reverse
- backtrack
- roll back
- go back
- wind back
- replay
- revisit
- relive
- go over
- look back

## Antonyms
- fast-forward
- advance

## Etymology
From the prefix re- ('again') + wind ('to roll, turn'), echoing Latin revolvere ('to roll back'); via Old English rewindan and Middle English rewinden to Modern English rewind ('to wind back, especially tape or film').

## AI Etymology
Rewind comes from the prefix re- ('again') + wind ('to roll, turn'), echoing Latin revolvere ('to roll back'); via Old English rewindan and Middle English rewinden to Modern English rewind ('to wind back, especially tape or film'). In current use it is a verb meaning "to wind back to an earlier point, especially in a recording or film". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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