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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The four episodes that comprise Volume 1 unsurprisingly walk back the Season 4 cliffhanger. Alison Herman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025 According to investigators, the car Sengendo was allegedly driving ran through a red light, struck another vehicle and then hit Chalekian, who was walking back to her dance studio between rehearsals after grabbing dinner, her family said. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025 One of the property owners' lawyers said in court that the author has walked back his words. Dennis Valera, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025 The quarterback responded by walking back to Virgin-Morgan and spitting in his face. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 22 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for walk back

Word History

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of walk back was in 2000

Cite this Entry

“Walk back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walk%20back. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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