The antonyms for the phrase "circled back" are varied, and depend on the context in which the phrase is used. Some examples could include words like "moved on", "progressed forward", "continued past", or "proceeded ahead". These words imply a sense of forward momentum or linear progression, unlike "circled back" which implies returning to a previous point. Other potential antonyms could include "strayed off course", "diverged", or "veered away from". These words suggest a directional change, but in a different way than "circled back" does, as they imply moving away rather than returning.