Rewind

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɹiːˈwaɪnd/

Definitions

  1. To reverse the playback of audio or video to an earlier point ; to move someone or something backward in position or direction
  2. To cause a device to go back over previously played material ; to shift an object or person in the opposite direction of forward motion
  3. To return to an earlier time or state by reversing a recording ; to physically or metaphorically step back from a current position

Etymology: The verb in question emerged with the rise of audio and video technology in the 20th century, specifically tied to devices like tape recorders and videocassette players. To "rewind" meant to wind a tape backward to an earlier point, allowing users to replay or review previously recorded material. This action was essential in an era before digital playback, when physical reels or cassettes had to be manually manipulated. Its formation is straightforward: the prefix "re-" comes from Latin, meaning "again" or "back," while "wind" refers to the act of turning or twisting something, as one would with a spool of thread or a clock's mainspring. The base "wind" itself has Old English roots (from "windan," meaning to twist or turn), and it retained this sense through the centuries. Combining the two parts naturally produced a verb that describes turning something back again. The first recorded usages in English likely appeared in the mid-20th century, coinciding with the popularization of magnetic tape technology. As recording devices became household items, the need for a simple, clear term to describe the backward motion of tapes became more pressing. While the physical act of winding has long been part of everyday life (clocks, fishing lines, etc.), the specific sense of "rewind" is a modern invention anchored firmly in media technology. Over time, its use broadened metaphorically to describe going back or returning to an earlier state or moment, especially in conversation or storytelling. This figurative application draws on the original mechanical action but applies it to abstract ideas, much like how "fast forward" or "pause" have crossed from physical controls into everyday speech.

Synonyms: replay, reverse

Antonyms: forward, fast-forward