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

In April, Indonesia's Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa suggested the country could introduce tolls on ships using the Strait of Malacca, before walking back the idea. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026

The video allegedly showed the victim turning to walk back toward his SUV, and then reapproach the Mitsubishi. — Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Few patients make his case better than the man who walked back through his door two decades after becoming a father there. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Diguglielmo is seen initially walking away from the woman before walking back toward her. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 2 July 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