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
This week, the White House appeared to backtrack on its most acute threats.
—
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Touches five and six are merely the cajoling preamble to the pièce de résistance, aka touch seven, a piercing through ball which splits defender Goncalo Inacio and backtracking forward Geny Catamo like a warm bread knife through a ciabatta roll straight out of Mama’s oven.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Some might say that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver is among the NFL’s best at catching passes and airing his grievances with his team on social media then backtracking hours or days later.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
On Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vučić has also backtracked, expressing support for long-time Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik – who has been barred from office by the country’s constitutional court, but defies that ruling.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
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Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Touches five and six are merely the cajoling preamble to the pièce de résistance, aka touch seven, a piercing through ball which splits defender Goncalo Inacio and backtracking forward Geny Catamo like a warm bread knife through a ciabatta roll straight out of Mama’s oven.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Some might say that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver is among the NFL’s best at catching passes and airing his grievances with his team on social media then backtracking hours or days later.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
On Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vučić has also backtracked, expressing support for long-time Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik – who has been barred from office by the country’s constitutional court, but defies that ruling.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 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 8 Oct. 2025.
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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