backpedal
verb
back·ped·al
ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 
backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals
: to retreat or move backward
Examples of backpedal in a Sentence
The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.
Recent Examples on the Web
In early warmups, Denver safety Brandon Jones (listed yesterday as questionable with an illness) is going through some pre-game running and backpedaling.
—
Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
Many in the party who have signed the bills that would allow trans inclusion in girls' and women's sports at a federal level have backpedaled in their stance and even denounced the idea in recent months.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
Many also worry that U.S. disengagement could lead other countries to backpedal on existing climate pledges or scale back future ambitions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Fulton was backpedaling, and Davis created considerable separation on both routes with his shiftiness coming out of his break.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal 
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Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
Many in the party who have signed the bills that would allow trans inclusion in girls' and women's sports at a federal level have backpedaled in their stance and even denounced the idea in recent months.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
Many also worry that U.S. disengagement could lead other countries to backpedal on existing climate pledges or scale back future ambitions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Fulton was backpedaling, and Davis created considerable separation on both routes with his shiftiness coming out of his break.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal
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Dictionary Entries Near backpedal
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpedal. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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