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
Seconds later, Flore backtracked, called the foul on the floor, then backtracked his backtrack and reverted to his initial call.
—
Cj Moore, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The company quietly backtracked from that promise in the past year, though, and the prototypes spotted this week on the South Side clearly have steering wheels and a driver in the front seat.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
On Tuesday, the DCYF backtracked and said another Minneapolis facility, the Mako Childcare Center, was closed in 2022.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
Since the former Escondido teachers filed their lawsuit in 2023, the state education department has backtracked on its policy regarding notifying parents.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
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Cj Moore, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The company quietly backtracked from that promise in the past year, though, and the prototypes spotted this week on the South Side clearly have steering wheels and a driver in the front seat.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
On Tuesday, the DCYF backtracked and said another Minneapolis facility, the Mako Childcare Center, was closed in 2022.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
Since the former Escondido teachers filed their lawsuit in 2023, the state education department has backtracked on its policy regarding notifying parents.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
Cite this Entry
“Backtrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backtrack. Accessed 9 Jan. 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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