backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak 
backtracked; backtracking; backtracks
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
Spilling blood in the hunt for Faith was the show’s declarative statement that, despite pushback from some fans, this final chapter won’t backtrack on the show’s version of Gabaldon’s books.
—
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 7 Mar. 2026
But the series of mid-decade redraws impacting the 2026 midterms essentially represent a break from tradition and have put Democrats in the position of having to backtrack on some of their past messaging on the issue.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Months after federal officials publicly committed to awarding Florida more than half a billion dollars to cover immigration enforcement costs, attorneys for the federal government appear to be backtracking on the grant award.
—Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Huckabee quickly backtracked after Carlson expressed consternation at the idea of an American diplomat signaling approval for a single country annexing almost the entire Levant, half of Saudi Arabia and a good chunk of Egypt.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
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Hunter Ingram, Variety, 7 Mar. 2026
But the series of mid-decade redraws impacting the 2026 midterms essentially represent a break from tradition and have put Democrats in the position of having to backtrack on some of their past messaging on the issue.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Months after federal officials publicly committed to awarding Florida more than half a billion dollars to cover immigration enforcement costs, attorneys for the federal government appear to be backtracking on the grant award.
—Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Huckabee quickly backtracked after Carlson expressed consternation at the idea of an American diplomat signaling approval for a single country annexing almost the entire Levant, half of Saudi Arabia and a good chunk of Egypt.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
Cite this Entry
“Backtrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backtrack. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak
1
: to go back over a course or path
2
: to reverse a position or stand
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