back-pedal

[bak-ped-l] / ˈbækˌpɛd l /

VERB

change mind

Synonyms

WEAK

back out of change opinion default on do a U-turn do an about-face fail to honor go back on go into reverse have second thoughts reconsider renege shift one's ground sing a different song take back

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He later tried to back-pedal, claiming he was misquoted, but the country's human rights body found his comments "hurtful and harmful".

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

I tried to back-pedal, saying, “Look, it will be fine for the dog to live inside the house with us,” and here I really should have deployed a full stop and ended the sentence.

From The Guardian • Jun. 20, 2016

Carrey isn’t the first actor to back-pedal on a project—but he’s still bringing something new into the mix.

From Time • Jun. 25, 2013

After jokingly offering to marry Owens if she moved from Kentucky to Illinois, Lincoln tried to back-pedal when she appeared genuinely interested.

From Slate • Nov. 17, 2012

To back-pedal is to press on the pedal when it is coming up instead of when it is going down.

From Ladies in the Field: Sketches of Sport by Greville, Beatrice Violet Graham