backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak How to pronounce backtrack (audio)
backtracked; backtracking; backtracks

intransitive verb

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 In recent years, though, as fentanyl has spread and concerns about crime and homelessness have loomed as potential political liabilities for Democrats, some coastal jurisdictions that had taken a permissive approach to drug use have backtracked. Mitch Smith, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Apple killed its car, got snubbed by Goldman, backtracked on iPhone apps, and was fined $2 billion It's been a rough stretch for Apple on both sides of the Atlantic Start Slideshow The hits keep coming for Apple. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Still, the Florida federal court might fear proceeding only to realize later that the Supreme Court has issued a ruling on immunity that forces the lower court to backtrack, according to Schultz. Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 In the past weeks, the EU has backtracked on some of its key environmental ambitions for farming, the source of more than a tenth of its greenhouse gas emissions. Nayla Razzouk, Fortune Europe, 13 Feb. 2024 The moderators, essentially, lost the room as some commenters expressed that the account didn’t do right by them by initially appearing to applaud the deal then backtracking. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024 Johnson had vowed not to take up another short-term extension, but backtracked as the first shutdown deadline in January neared. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024 Jones has since backtracked in an effort to defuse speculation or provide clarity. USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2024 But the city backtracked after facing a court challenge. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 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.

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of backtrack was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near backtrack

Cite this Entry

“Backtrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backtrack. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

backtrack

verb
back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak How to pronounce backtrack (audio)
1
: to go back over a course or path
2
: to reverse a position or stand

More from Merriam-Webster on backtrack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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