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

At a time when the federal government is backtracking on the clean energy transition, New York must step up its role and leadership in this process rather than conforming to the dangerous narratives and attacks coming out of Washington. —Eunice Ko, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2025

The organization funding purge is the latest to come as Google began backtracking some of its commitments to DEI over the last couple of years. —Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025

There’s always the risk, too, that Detroit’s complaints about Trump’s Japan deal prompts the White House to backtrack on the 15% auto tax level. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

An uproar ignited across the city with 60,000 residents signing a petition, prompting the organization to apologize, backtrack and only relocate 10 trees from the foot of Broadway and First Avenue. —Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 19 July 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