backtrack

About 0.26 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun The act of backtracking.
2. verb To retrace one's steps.

   I dropped my sunglasses and had to backtrack to find them.

3. verb To repeat or review work already done.

   If we backtrack through this problem, maybe we can figure out where we went wrong.

4. verb To taxi down an active runway in the opposite direction to that being used for takeoff.

   Speedbird One: enter and backtrack Runway 27 Left.

5. verb To exercise a racehorse around the racetrack in the opposite direction to that in which races are run.
6. verb To go back on or withdraw a statement.

   After enormous public outrage, the government backtracked on its proposed ban.

Similar words

turn back double back back retract rewind reverse retreat withdraw retrace cede

Often followed by

to and a on from search in through for

Word family

backtracked backtracking backtracks