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

Elsewhere, prosecutors appeared to backtrack on an allegation against Basam Ibrahim. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

In 2016, Henry backtracked on proposals laid out by Liverpool’s former CEO Ian Ayre to raise some ticket prices to £77, a move that would have made the club less than £25,000 but prompted a huge backlash due to wider concerns about the direction of pricing. —Simon Hughes, New York Times, 1 May 2026

NeurIPS quickly backtracked, blaming a miscommunication with its legal team. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, Iran has backtracked on reopening the strait, saying the blockade must end first. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for backtrack

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

Kids Definition

backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak 

1

: to go back over a course or path

2

: to reverse a position or stand