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
Washington — The White House Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday walked back a memo that ordered a freeze on federal assistance, less than two days after the directive led to chaos and confusion around the country as to what programs would be impacted.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is walking back an almost-total 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance, making an exception for life-saving humanitarian aid, according to a memo the Miami Herald obtained.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
The witness then stated that surrounding people separated the two individuals, but then Mark attempted to walk back over to the victim.
—Sophie Clark, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Several minutes later, Travis Kelce and Swift walked back up the locker room tunnel, both smiling and his arm wrapped around her.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
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Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is walking back an almost-total 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign assistance, making an exception for life-saving humanitarian aid, according to a memo the Miami Herald obtained.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
The witness then stated that surrounding people separated the two individuals, but then Mark attempted to walk back over to the victim.
—Sophie Clark, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Several minutes later, Travis Kelce and Swift walked back up the locker room tunnel, both smiling and his arm wrapped around her.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for walk back
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Cite this Entry
“Walk back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walk%20back. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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