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Glite Dictionary
to circle back

to circle back

18 4.4
To return to a topic later to talk about it
  • phrasal verb
  • Jargon
translation icon : retomar
  • Just take a moment before we circle back to the prompt, OK?

And that's where it circles back to the science of learning.

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Examples

  • I'm sure we'll circle back.

    Monte Carlo (2011)

  • Can we circle back on the whole paying me thing?

    Red One (2024)

  • Maybe look at it this way and then, you know, circle back to me in a year, right?

  • Okay, well, we'll circle back on that one.

    Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

  • So let's let's maybe circle back to history a little bit.

    Evan Carmichael

  • So so let's let's let's circle back to the music now what what you got coming up?

  • I'm going to go, I'm going to go finish, finish my hair, throw a little something on my face and then we will circle back and we will discuss this further.

  • Let's circle back.

    Black and Blue (2019)

  • I'll circle back around.

    Sinister Switch (2021)

  • Let's discuss the project now, and we can circle back to the budget later.

Synonyms

to go back
vsto circle back
∞ 1.0

Return to a previous place, topic, or state

return later to a topic or task rather than to a place or state
to come back
vsto circle back
919 1.3

To return to a previous subject or point

return later after temporarily moving away rather than immediately
to resume
vsto circle back
297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

return later to a topic or task rather than start general activity again
to return to muttons
vsto circle back
9.9

To go back to the main topic or task after a distraction

return later to any topic, issue, or task rather than only main topic

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

How Quickly

to follow up
197 3.6
to circle back
  • Jargon
18 4.4
to postpone
234 3.4
to shelve
11 5.0

Surface Forms

circle back infinitive
circled back past
circled back past participle
circling back present participle
circles back third person singular

Morphology

circle + back

The sense 'return to a topic later' can be derived from combining 'circle' (move around) with 'back' (return): the image of going around and coming back maps well onto revisiting an issue. However, this is a metaphorical extension used in discourse/business contexts, so a B1 learner might need some contextual support to be certain of the non‑literal, conversational meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb circle back comes from the image of walking in a circle and then coming back to the same spot. So, it means 'to return to a topic or task later'.