1. (literature) a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story
   "The novel used flashbacks to reveal the character's troubled past"
    
2. An unexpected but vivid recurrence of a past experience (especially a recurrence of the effects of an hallucinogenic drug taken much earlier)
   "The war veteran experienced a sudden flashback to his time in combat"

1. Return in time
   "The movie flashed back to the character's childhood";
   - cut back

Derived forms: flashbacks, flashing back, flashed back, flashes back

See also: scoot [informal]

Type of: recurrence, reoccurrence, return, transition

Antonym: flash-forward

Encyclopedia: Flashback