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

Polls show that the British public is leaning toward the Greek claim, but UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently backpedaled on his own previous calls for the marbles to return to Greece, and said the decision was now up to the British Museum. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Ahead of the 2026 midterms, many Democrats have distanced themselves from past support of trans athletes without explicitly backpedaling or changing their stance on the issue. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

The seventh-round rookie threw an ugly interception in the first quarter, while backpedaling and off his back foot. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

As pressure has built from both Congress and within the military to restore the program, the Defense Department appears to have backpedaled. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backpedal

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