Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #14353
retrace
追溯；折回；绕回
to go back over again
- 1.
To trace (a line, etc. in drawing) again.
(绘图等)再次描摹(线条等)。
- 2.
to go back over again
重新走过
- 3.
To go back over something, usually in an attempt at rediscovery.
折回,重走(原路),通常是为了重新探寻。
- 4.
reassemble mentally
在脑海中重新组合
- 5.
To undergo retracement.
发生回撤。
(绘图等)再次描摹(线条等)。；重新走过；折回,重走(原路),通常是为了重新探寻。；在脑海中重新组合；发生回撤。
In use
We missed the turn, so we had to retrace our steps to find the right road.
She retraced her route through the park to see where she had dropped her keys.
The hikers retraced their path back to the camp before dark.
we retraced the route we took last summer
retrace sth
sth 可以是历史、发展过程等抽象名词，表示“追溯、回顾”。
The documentary retraces the history of the railway.
这部纪录片追溯了这条铁路的历史。
retrace one's steps
one's 可按人称替换（my/her/his），强调按来时的路线走回去。
She retraced her steps to look for her ring.
她沿原路返回，寻找她的戒指。
Connections
Collocations
- retrace one's steps
- 沿原路返回；折回原路
- I realized I had dropped my keys, so I retraced my steps along the street.我意识到钥匙掉了，于是沿街折回原路寻找。
- retrace a route
- 重新走一遍路线；按原路重走
- The hikers decided to retrace their route to the village.徒步者们决定按原路返回村庄。
- retrace the past
- 追溯过去
- In her memoir, she retraces the past with remarkable honesty.在她的回忆录中，她以惊人的坦诚追溯过去。
- retrace history
- 追溯历史
- The documentary retraces the history of the railway line.这部纪录片追溯了这条铁路线的历史。
- retrace one's thoughts
- 回顾自己的思绪；回想
- She closed her eyes and tried to retrace her thoughts to the moment of the accident.她闭上眼睛，努力回想事故发生的那个瞬间。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
把 re-（再次）和 trace（追踪）想成“再沿着脚印走一遍”，即折回、追溯。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：寻路或找失物时、叙述旅行或行程时 retrace 这里指‘按原路折回/返回’，属于较中性的书面用词；口语中比较常见于 retrace one's steps 这类搭配，表示沿原路回去。正式场合也可用于‘重走某条路线’。通常不带有特别随意或特别正式的语气。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All these words rhyme with retrace /riˈtreɪs/, sharing the final /eɪs/ sound. Beware lookalikes that sound different: retreat /rɪˈtriːt/ and retrieve /rɪˈtriːv/ do not rhyme with retrace.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.