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
Most of the skeptics who walked in on Friday walked back out on Sunday soundly convinced.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The first agent is seen walking back from the Honda and checking his phone.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Hill — who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 — later apologized, walked back those comments and stated his commitment to the Dolphins.
—Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Hill -- who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 — later apologized, walked back those comments and stated his commitment to the Dolphins.
—Alanis Thames, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for walk back
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Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The first agent is seen walking back from the Honda and checking his phone.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Hill — who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 — later apologized, walked back those comments and stated his commitment to the Dolphins.
—Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Hill -- who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 — later apologized, walked back those comments and stated his commitment to the Dolphins.
—Alanis Thames, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 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 12 Jan. 2026.
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