backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak 

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

Some businesses might be forced to backtrack on their activism because of pressure from corporate owners. —Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Bolden backtracked, caught the ball, then housed the return. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 May 2025

The protests led the government to backtrack on the geographical designation, but this vacillation sparked counter-protests in Marne, the first-tier Champagne region. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025

But his behavior to date suggests a willingness to backtrack quickly when the disastrous economic consequences become clear. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for backtrack

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

backtrack

verb

back·​track ˈbak-ˌtrak 

1

: to go back over a course or path

2

: to reverse a position or stand