backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak 
backtracked; backtracking; backtracks
1
a
: to retrace one's course
b
: to go back to an earlier point in a sequence
2
: to reverse a position
Examples of backtrack in a Sentence
The hikers realized they had made a wrong turn and would have to backtrack.
Let me backtrack for a moment and pick up our previous conversation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Look for positive signs, and adjust your path to minimize backtracking.
—
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 9 May 2024
That’s roughly the number who signed a massive petition against the despised new law, forcing the government to backtrack.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024
But after information about the special meeting got out to the public, leaders backtracked and did not hold a special meeting that day.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Just this month, PacifiCorp backtracked on a plan to shutter its Utah coal plants, Huntington and Hunter, by 2032, reverting to the previous retirement dates of 2036 and 2042.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Faced with criminal charges in the state elections inquiries, some of Mr. Trump’s allies and advisers have backtracked from his 2020 claims.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The film festival was to have run from April 7 to 9 in Hamilton, Ontario at the Playhouse Cinema until the movie theater took the decision to backtrack on those plans.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024
What really wears you down, however, is the asinine amount of backtracking between different locations.
—George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
Apple backtracked on removing iPhone web apps after EU scrutiny.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 9 May 2024
That’s roughly the number who signed a massive petition against the despised new law, forcing the government to backtrack.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024
But after information about the special meeting got out to the public, leaders backtracked and did not hold a special meeting that day.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Just this month, PacifiCorp backtracked on a plan to shutter its Utah coal plants, Huntington and Hunter, by 2032, reverting to the previous retirement dates of 2036 and 2042.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Faced with criminal charges in the state elections inquiries, some of Mr. Trump’s allies and advisers have backtracked from his 2020 claims.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The film festival was to have run from April 7 to 9 in Hamilton, Ontario at the Playhouse Cinema until the movie theater took the decision to backtrack on those plans.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024
What really wears you down, however, is the asinine amount of backtracking between different locations.
—George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
Apple backtracked on removing iPhone web apps after EU scrutiny.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backtrack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near backtrack
Cite this Entry
“Backtrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backtrack. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak
1
: to go back over a course or path
2
: to reverse a position or stand
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