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
The victims took an elevator back to the fourth floor and were walking back to the apartment when one of the suspects pointed a handgun at the head of one of the victims, according to police.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Lawyers for Porter’s family say witnesses have come forward alleging Porter was walking back to his apartment when he was shot.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The broadcaster finished his journey, and my colleague and I bravely made the walk back to our seats.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The confrontation turned into a fistfight, and as her daughter was walking back into their house, someone shot her in the back.
—Joy Benedict, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for walk back
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Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Lawyers for Porter’s family say witnesses have come forward alleging Porter was walking back to his apartment when he was shot.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The broadcaster finished his journey, and my colleague and I bravely made the walk back to our seats.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The confrontation turned into a fistfight, and as her daughter was walking back into their house, someone shot her in the back.
—Joy Benedict, CBS News, 3 Feb. 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 14 Feb. 2026.
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