backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak 

backtracked; backtracking; backtracks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to retrace one's course

b

: to go back to an earlier point in a sequence

2

: to reverse a position

Examples of backtrack in a Sentence

The hikers realized they had made a wrong turn and would have to backtrack.

Let me backtrack for a moment and pick up our previous conversation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump can oscillate between impatience with Putin, even threatening Russia with sanctions coordinated with Europe, and backtracking after Putin makes just a marginal counteroffer in bad faith. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Britain’s opposition parties slammed the deals as backtracking on Brexit. —Sylvia Hui, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025

After The Star reported on the issue, Oracle backtracked, promised to fund the scholarships and said the incident was a matter of miscommunication. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025

The Trump Administration has since backtracked on some of these moves. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for backtrack

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak 

1

: to go back over a course or path

2

: to reverse a position or stand