Pronunciation: /ˈbækˌpɛdəl/

Definitions of backpedal

noun a backward movement or retreat from a previous position or opinion

Example Sentences

A1 He quickly backpedaled when he realized he was wrong.

A2 The politician's backpedal on his promises disappointed many of his supporters.

B1 The company's decision to backpedal on their new product release caused confusion among customers.

B2 After receiving backlash, the CEO had to backpedal on his controversial statement.

C1 The government's backpedal on the proposed policy changes was met with skepticism by the public.

C2 The athlete's backpedal during the game was a strategic move that helped his team win.

verb to reverse one's previous opinion or position

Example Sentences

A1 She quickly backpedaled when she realized she had made a mistake.

A2 The politician tried to backpedal on his controversial statement, but it was already too late.

B1 After making a bold claim, he had to backpedal when he couldn't provide any evidence.

B2 The company had to backpedal on their new product launch after receiving negative feedback from customers.

C1 The CEO's attempt to backpedal on the company's financial losses only made shareholders more concerned.

C2 Despite his best efforts to backpedal, the CEO's reputation was irreparably damaged by the scandal.

Examples of backpedal in a Sentence

formal The politician attempted to backpedal on his controversial statement during the press conference.

informal After realizing he was wrong, he started to backpedal and apologize.

slang When she got caught in a lie, she tried to backpedal her way out of it.

figurative The company had to backpedal on their decision to cut employee benefits due to public backlash.

Grammatical Forms of backpedal

past tense

backpedaled

plural

backpedalers

comparative

more backpedaling

superlative

most backpedaling

present tense

backpedals

future tense

will backpedal

perfect tense

have backpedaled

continuous tense

is backpedaling

singular

backpedaler

positive degree

backpedal

infinitive

to backpedal

gerund

backpedaling

participle

backpedaling

Origin and Evolution of backpedal

First Known Use: 1886 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'backpedal' originated from the combination of 'back' and 'pedal', with 'pedal' referring to the foot-operated lever on a bicycle.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of cycling to describe the action of reversing the pedals to slow down or stop, 'backpedal' has evolved to also mean retracting or reversing one's statement or position in a discussion or argument.