~ sth to go back along exactly the same path or route that you have come along 沿原路返回；折回
She turned around and began to retrace her steps towards the house.
她转身沿原路向那栋房子走去。
~ sth to make the same trip that sb else has made in the past 重走（别人走过的路线）
They are hoping to retrace the epic voyage of Christopher Columbus.
他们期待着沿哥伦布的壮丽航程进行一次航行。
~ sth to find out what sb has done or where they have been 追溯；找出；回顾
Detectives are trying to retrace her movements on the night she disappeared.
侦探们试图查出她失踪当晚的行踪。
If you retrace your steps or retrace your way, you return to the place you started from by going back along the same route. [V n]
He retraced his steps to the spot where he’d left the case.
他折回到他丢下箱子的地方。