row back

USAGE SUMMARY

"row back" is a valid phrase in written English.
It typically means to retreat or turn back. For example, "The company was forced to row back on their decision to close the factory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then I'll row back".

The Guardian - Arts

He started to row back.

The Guardian

He had his son row back toward the buoy.

The New York Times

But will they row back from their election pledges?

The Economist

8After the race, they row back to the Newell Boat House.

Harvard University

Conservatives are likely to resist this, bringing the row back to Parliament.

The Economist

"I don't think that you can row back," she said of her successor.

The New York Times

Wales have injuries in most areas: front row, back row, half-back, midfield and out wide.

Independent

Mr Clegg is also insisting that he wants the government to row back on closed hearings.

The Economist

I want Wallow to row back to shore and sleep through the night.

The New Yorker

The education ministry appeared to row back from its previous position on Thursday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "row back" when you want to indicate a retraction of a statement, plan, or opinion. It's useful to show a shift in position, often due to pressure or new information.

Common error

Avoid using "row back" to describe a physical movement, unless in the literal context of rowing a boat backwards. It's primarily used to describe a change in stance or opinion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "row back" is as a phrasal verb, indicating a change of position or retraction of a statement or action. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

17%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "row back" is used to describe the act of retracting a statement, opinion, or policy. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "backtrack" or "withdraw" exist, "row back" effectively conveys a shift in position. Remember to use it in contexts where a change of stance is being described rather than a literal rowing action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

backtrack

Implies a retreat from a previous position or statement, similar to admitting an error.

retreat

Suggests withdrawing from a commitment or position, focusing on physical or metaphorical movement.

withdraw

Emphasizes the act of taking back something that was previously offered or stated.

take back

Directly indicates the retraction of a statement or promise.

recant

Formally retract a statement or belief, often under pressure.

walk back

Informal way to express taking back a statement or softening a stance.

renege

Fail to honor a commitment; implies a breach of trust.

back down

Yield in the face of opposition; gives up a position.

reverse course

Change direction or strategy completely.

change one's tune

Alter one's attitude or opinion, often noticeably.

FAQs

How to use "row back" in a sentence?

You can use "row back" to indicate a change of opinion or position, as in, "The politician had to "row back" on his earlier statement after facing criticism."

What can I say instead of "row back"?

You can use alternatives like "backtrack", "retreat", or "withdraw" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "row back" or "back row"?

"Row back" is a phrasal verb meaning to retreat from a position, while "back row" refers to a position in the rear, such as in a theater or classroom.

What's the difference between "row back" and "walk back"?

"Row back" is more common in British English and implies retracting a statement or policy, while "walk back" is more common in American English and has a similar meaning, often suggesting a softening of a previous stance.