Question 1

What does "harken back" mean?

Accepted Answer

To be reminiscent of an earlier time or style; to deliberately invoke something from the past.

Question 2

How do you use "harken back" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

Her fashion choices harken back to the glamour of old Hollywood.

Question 3

Is "harken back" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"harken back" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Widely used in American English as a variant of 'hark back'. Considered non-standard by some prescriptive grammarians, but accepted in informal and journalistic writing. Almost always followed by 'to'. Functionally identical to 'hark back' in modern usage.

harken back

Plus avec "back"