backpedal

verb

back·​ped·​al ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 

backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals

intransitive verb

: to retreat or move backward

Examples of backpedal in a Sentence

The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

For a couple more seconds, Hobig kept walking down the street as Pfister backpedaled. — Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Publishers Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive have experimented with ads and quickly backpedaled in response to criticism. — Jordan Novet,annie Palmer, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Emmet Sheehan backpedaled down the mound, watching the ball fly just over the left-field wall. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Throughout the hearing, Kaufman tried to backpedal on his comments about vaccines, but his responses were unconvincing. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backpedal

• bipedal
• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• meddle
• pedal
• peddle
• wedel
• intermeddle