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1. A transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story
    
2. An unexpected but vivid recurrence of a past experience (especially a recurrence of the effects of an hallucinogenic drug taken much earlier)

1. Return in time
   "the film flash back to an earlier event in the story"
   - cut back

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

See also: flash

Type of: recurrence, reoccurence, return, transition

Antonym: flash-forward

Encyclopedia: Flashback