backpedal Hear it!

backpedal definition

back·pedal (-ped′'l)

intransitive verb backpedaled -·ped′·aled or backpedalled -·ped′·alled, backpedaling -·ped′·al·ing or backpedalling -·ped′·al·ling

  1. to press backward on the pedals of a bicycle, as to brake
  2. ☆ to move backward quickly, as in boxing to avoid blows
  3. ☆ to retract an earlier opinion

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.