walk back

verb

walked back; walking back; walks back

transitive verb

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
… 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

Examples of walk back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors already moved to walk back DEI. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025 Marji was walking back to Unk Candy and Grocery on University Ave. Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025 The market has rebounded of late as the administration has walked back or paused a number of those levies. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 27 May 2025 Instead of showing curiosity or affection, the horse just bolts away back home, leaving his owner and her turtle to walk back alone. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for walk back

Word History

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of walk back was in 2000

Cite this Entry

“Walk back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walk%20back. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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