MEANING
To retreat from a previous statement, commitment, or position when it becomes risky or uncomfortable.
Use it for
retreat after consequences become clear; fear of exposureLet changed wording reveal a changed estimate of risk.
Words that belong together
- backpedal on a promise
- begin to backpedal
- backpedal under pressure
On the page
He began to backpedal when the investigator asked for the original recording.
Fear of public anger made the minister backpedal on the closure.
She refused to backpedal merely because the threat had become personal.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- backpedal / backpedals
- Past tense
- backpedaled
- Past participle
- backpedaled
- Present participle
- backpedaling
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- backpedal / backpedals
- Present continuous
- am/is/are backpedaling
- Present perfect
- have/has backpedaled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been backpedaling
- Past
- backpedaled
- Past continuous
- was/were backpedaling
- Past perfect
- had backpedaled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been backpedaling
- Future
- will backpedal / backpedals
- Future continuous
- will be backpedaling
- Future perfect
- will have backpedaled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been backpedaling
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. Figurative sense; often implies self-protective revision and may be evasive. Fear is a possible motive, not part of every use. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): backpedal, backpedals, backpedaled, backpedaled, backpedaling. British past/past participle: backpedalled; -ing: backpedalling.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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