What does "callback" mean?
The return of a situation to a previous position or state; a reference to such a position or state.
Callback
noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The return of a situation to a previous position or state; a reference to such a position or state.
- Grammar: callback is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: asynchronous, callback function, delegates, event driven.
- Useful contrasts: blocking, direct call, direct contact.
- Usage evidence: Aiden Gillen whimpers on his knees, stretching for the first time in years. And finally Sansa sentences him, and Arya swings the sword, or dagger as the case may be. For all the historical callbacks in the episode, and in its old age Game Of Thrones keeps portentously reciting old lines verbatim, this callback is the most resonant. Ned always said the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. His daughters are finding a different way forward.
How to use "callback"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "callback" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "callback" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "callback" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "callback" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "callback" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "asynchronous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "callback", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The return of a situation to a previous position or state; a reference to such a position or state.
"Aiden Gillen whimpers on his knees, stretching for the first time in years. And finally Sansa sentences him, and Arya swings the sword, or dagger as the case may be. For all the historical callbacks in the episode, and in its old age Game Of Thrones keeps portentously reciting old lines verbatim, this callback is the most resonant. Ned always said the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. His daughters are finding a different way forward."
- 2 a request by the manufacturer of a defective product to return the product (as for replacement or repair) wordnet
- 3 A return telephone or radio call; especially one made automatically to authenticate a logon to a computer network.
"For example, multiple callbacks might be made to a nonanswered number to increase the response rate."
- 4 A product recall because of a defect or safety concern.
- 5 A function pointer passed as an argument to another function.
"Historically, all viable frameworks have always provided a mechanism to implement callbacks. C# goes one step further and encapsulates callbacks into callable objects called delegates."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A follow-up audition in casting.
- 7 A follow-up interview in employment recruiting.
- 8 A joke which references an earlier joke in the same routine.
"When the album succeeds, such as on the swaggering, Queen-esque “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us,” it does so on The Darkness’ own terms—that is, as a random ’80s-cliché generator. But with so many tired, lazy callbacks to its own threadbare catalog (including “Love Is Not The Answer,” a watery echo of the epic “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” from 2003’s Permission To Land), Hot Cakes marks the point where The Darkness has stopped cannibalizing the golden age of stadium rock and simply started cannibalizing itself. And, despite Hawkins’ inveterate crotch-grabbing, there was never that much meat there to begin with."
- 9 A form of audience participation in which the audience shout lines in response to the dialog of a film.
"Apparent on this disc is the problem that plagues every recording of the score: Without an audience full of rowdy geeks screaming out callbacks, Rocky Horror feels incomplete."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Aiden Gillen whimpers on his knees, stretching for the first time in years. And finally Sansa sentences him, and Arya swings the sword, or dagger as the case may be. For all the historical callbacks in the episode, and in its old age Game Of Thrones keeps portentously reciting old lines verbatim, this callback is the most resonant. Ned always said the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. His daughters are finding a different way forward."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "callback"?
Common synonyms include: asynchronous, callback function, delegates, event driven, follow up contact, follow-up.
How do you use "callback" in a sentence?
Aiden Gillen whimpers on his knees, stretching for the first time in years. And finally Sansa sentences him, and Arya swings the sword, or dagger as the case may be. For all the historical callbacks in the episode, and in its old age Game Of Thrones keeps portentously reciting old lines verbatim, this callback is the most resonant. Ned always said the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. His daughters are finding a different way forward.
Etymology
Deverbal from call back.