backpedal
verb
back·ped·al
ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 
backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals
: to retreat or move backward
Examples of backpedal in a Sentence
The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Microsoft is backpedaling on plans to charge $80 for some PC and Xbox games.
—
PC Magazine, 23 July 2025
Ann-Katrin Berger is backpedaling and already going down.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 July 2025
Trump has backpedaled so much that a new term entered our lexicon: TACO, which means Trump Always Chickens Out.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 23 June 2025
That became a concern on X, to the point where Musk was forced to backpedal on his free speech absolutist ideals.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
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PC Magazine, 23 July 2025
Ann-Katrin Berger is backpedaling and already going down.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 July 2025
Trump has backpedaled so much that a new term entered our lexicon: TACO, which means Trump Always Chickens Out.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 23 June 2025
That became a concern on X, to the point where Musk was forced to backpedal on his free speech absolutist ideals.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpedal. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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