backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak 
backtracked; backtracking; backtracks
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
The movie begins in a rush, near the end of the story, but quickly backtracks to the point where the rivalry commences.
—
Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Hoskins later attempted to backtrack that criminal threat.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2025
The Israeli leader initially accepted the invite, only to backtrack two hours later.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Barcelona initially agreed to take part this evening but then backtracked, in part because of security reasons.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
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Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
Hoskins later attempted to backtrack that criminal threat.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2025
The Israeli leader initially accepted the invite, only to backtrack two hours later.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Barcelona initially agreed to take part this evening but then backtracked, in part because of security reasons.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backtrack
Cite this Entry
“Backtrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backtrack. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backtrack
verb
back·track
ˈbak-ˌtrak
1
: to go back over a course or path
2
: to reverse a position or stand
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