walk back
verb
walked back; walking back; walks back
US
: to retreat from or distance oneself from (a previously stated opinion or position)
… try not to say anything in the primary campaign that you might need to walk back in the general election.—
The Progressive Populist
The Progressive Populist… has tried to walk back his suggestion about Japan, in particular, claiming in recent days that he "never said" that the Asian nation should acquire nuclear weapons.—Julian Hattem
Julian HattemExamples of walk back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jurors watched video showing Horner pulling up to the girl’s home and walking back toward his truck with Athena following behind him, before lifting her inside and shutting the door.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
The city of Ann Arbor is walking back its plan to eliminate its outdoor emergency sirens after severe storms hit Southeast Michigan overnight Tuesday, causing widespread damage.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Bowness later walked back that comment, acknowledging that the players do care.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
On the walk back to the inn, Henry veered off the trail to pick up a fallen branch, gray and forked with one crisp leaf clinging obstinately on.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for walk back
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Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
The city of Ann Arbor is walking back its plan to eliminate its outdoor emergency sirens after severe storms hit Southeast Michigan overnight Tuesday, causing widespread damage.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Bowness later walked back that comment, acknowledging that the players do care.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
On the walk back to the inn, Henry veered off the trail to pick up a fallen branch, gray and forked with one crisp leaf clinging obstinately on.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for walk back
Cite this Entry
“Walk back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walk%20back. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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