1. move the pedals of a bicycle backward (formerly to brake).
▪ reverse one's previous action or opinion: "you've criticized him for backpedaling on budget reform"Similarchange one's mindchange one's opiniongo into reversedo an about-facedo a U-turnrow backshift one's groundsing a different songhave second thoughtsreconsiderclimb downdo an about-turnrenege onback down ongo back onback out offail to honorwithdrawbacktrack onrow back ontake backabandondefault on
▪ move hastily backward:"backpedaling furiously, he flipped a perfect pass"