rewind
B1Neutral to informal; technical in media contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To wind something (e.g., a tape, film, video) back to an earlier point.
To return to an earlier point in a digital recording, narrative, or process; metaphorically, to revisit past thoughts or memories.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally literal (physical media like tape). Now primarily digital/metaphorical. Can be transitive (rewind the video) or intransitive (let's rewind).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word itself is identical in spelling and usage. Differences lie in associated vocabulary (e.g., 'telly' vs. 'TV') in examples.
Connotations
Slightly more nostalgic/physical in UK (linger of VHS/cassette culture); more digital/streaming-associated in US.
Frequency
Similar frequency; slightly higher in UK due to enduring 'rewind' as a radio/TV term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VN] (rewind sth)[V] (Can you rewind?)[V + to] (rewind to the start)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rewind the clock (on something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'Let's rewind and look at the project's initial goals.'
Academic
Metaphorical. 'The study rewinds to the origins of the theory.'
Everyday
Common for digital media. 'Rewind the film to the scary bit.'
Technical
Specific in audio/video editing, data tape storage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you rewind the telly programme a bit?
- I rewound the cassette to hear the song again.
American English
- Please rewind the streaming video to the start.
- He rewound the security footage.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The rewind function on my old recorder is broken.
American English
- Press the rewind button on the remote.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Press here to rewind the cartoon.
- Can you rewind the music?
- I had to rewind the film to understand the plot.
- Let's rewind to the beginning of your story.
- The documentary allows viewers to rewind and review key segments.
- We need to rewind the negotiations to where the misunderstanding began.
- The author's narrative technique effectively rewinds temporal progression to reveal the character's motivations.
- Society cannot simply rewind the clock on technological advancement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-WIND: Imagine winding a watch backwards (reversing the winding action).
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LINEAR RECORDING (we can rewind it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'перемотать' only for physical tapes; for digital 'rewind', use 'вернуться назад (в записи)' or 'поставить на перемотку назад'.
- Do not confuse with 'rewind' as a noun (a function).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rewind' for 'reload' a webpage.
- Incorrect: 'Rewind the book' (use 'reread').
- Wrong tense: 'rewinded' instead of 'rewound'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'rewind' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the correct past tense and past participle is 'rewound'.
Yes, it's standard for digital audio/video (e.g., streaming, podcasts).
Yes, e.g., 'Hit rewind on the remote.' It names the function or button.
'Rewind' is primarily for recordings/media returning to an earlier point. 'Reverse' is broader (car, decision, process).