walk back

verb

walked back; walking back; walks back

transitive verb

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

… 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

Examples of walk back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the couple walked back to their nearby campsite, the brief says, Kelly retrieved a firearm from his truck and allegedly opened fire on two approaching women, Escamilla and Ruiz, killing them without warning. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026

Pérez yelled twice before pumping his fist and walking back to the dugout to an ovation from his teammates. —Jesús Cano, New York Times, 20 May 2026

Fawley walked back to the dugout after a stellar equence of strike zone recognition by the Tigers’ catcher. —Jace Denison, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026

Presidents often walk back legal positions taken under prior administrations. —Zoe Tillman, Fortune, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for walk back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback