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.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to walk back the existing guidance, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, May 15. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 16 May 2025 The person then walked back to the car and drove away. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025 After the gunfire, Shriner calmly walks back into her home. Jack Hannah, CNN Money, 13 May 2025 People regularly walk back to town after being released from the Santa Fe jail. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 12 May 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 21 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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