flashback

/ˈflæʃˌbæk/
noun
  1. A sudden, clear memory of a past event or time, often one that was unpleasant or traumatic.
    • He had a flashback to the accident and felt scared for a moment.
    • The smell of the ocean gave her a sudden flashback to childhood summers at the beach.
    • The movie used a flashback to show the character's childhood.
  2. A scene in a book, movie, or play that shows events that happened earlier in the story.
    • In the novel, a long flashback reveals the secret from the past.
    • The director used a flashback to explain why the hero was so angry.
    • The episode begins with a flashback to the main character's first day at school.
verb
  1. To have a sudden, vivid memory of a past event.
    • He flashed back to the moment he first saw the ocean.
    • The song made her flashback to her high school prom.
    • Sometimes I flashback to that summer and smile.
What does "flashback" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean