retreat

/ri'tri:t/

Thân thiện

The hikers began their retreat from the mountain as the storm approached.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of withdrawing or moving backward: A movement away from a position, especially to escape danger or an unpleasant situation.
   • A place of privacy, quiet, or safety: A secluded location where one can be alone, rest, or find peace.
   • A period of seclusion for prayer, meditation, or study: A dedicated time, often in a quiet place, for religious or spiritual reflection.
   • (Military) A withdrawal of forces: The movement of troops to a safer or more favorable position, often after a defeat or to avoid a stronger enemy.
   • (Military) A signal for withdrawal: A bugle call or other signal ordering a military withdrawal, traditionally played at sunset to lower the flag.

2. Verb:

   • To move back or withdraw: To go backward from a position or place.
   • To withdraw from a commitment or activity: To decide not to do something one had previously agreed to do.
   • To seek privacy or seclusion: To go to a quiet, private place.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The army's retreat was necessary to avoid capture. (The army's withdrawal was necessary to avoid capture.)
  • She goes to a mountain retreat every summer to relax. (She goes to a secluded mountain place every summer to relax.)
  • He attended a spiritual retreat to meditate and reflect. (He attended a period of spiritual seclusion to meditate and reflect.)

• Verb:

  • The glacier continues to retreat each year. (The glacier continues to move backward each year.)
  • Facing strong opposition, the company decided to retreat from its controversial policy. (Facing strong opposition, the company decided to withdraw from its controversial policy.)
  • The leader would often retreat to his library to think. (The leader would often withdraw to his library to think.)

Advanced Usage

• "To beat a retreat": To withdraw quickly, especially from a difficult or embarrassing situation.

  • When the debate became too heated, he decided to beat a hasty retreat. (When the debate became too heated, he decided to withdraw quickly.)

• "To be in full retreat": To be withdrawing or fleeing in a complete and disorderly manner.

  • After the surprise attack, the enemy forces were in full retreat. (After the surprise attack, the enemy forces were fleeing completely.)

Variants and Related Words

• Retreatant (n): A person who participates in a religious retreat.

  • The retreatants spent the weekend in silent prayer. (The people on the retreat spent the weekend in silent prayer.)

• Retreating (adj): Moving back or becoming more distant.

  • He has a retreating hairline. (He has a hairline that is moving backward.)

Synonyms

• Withdraw: To remove oneself from a situation or place.
• Recede: To move back or away (often used for things like water, hair, or glaciers).
• Seclusion: The state of being private and away from other people.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Retreat into oneself: To become quiet and withdrawn, often due to shyness or upset.
  • After the criticism, she retreated into herself and stopped speaking. (After the criticism, she became withdrawn and stopped speaking.)

Related Idioms

• A strategic retreat: A withdrawal that is a calculated move for a future advantage, not a sign of defeat.
  • Selling the failing division was not a defeat but a strategic retreat to save the company. (Selling the failing division was not a defeat but a calculated withdrawal to save the company.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
2. withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
   • the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity
3. an area where you can be alone
4. (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
5. (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
6. a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
7. (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
   • the disorderly retreat of French troops

Verb

1. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
   • We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
   • He backed out of his earlier promise
   • The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
2. move back
   • The glacier retrogrades
3. move away, as for privacy
   • The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer
4. pull back or move away or backward
   • The enemy withdrew
   • The limo pulled away from the curb

Từ đồng nghĩa

• retirement
• hideaway
• pull back
• back out
• back away
• crawfish
• crawfish out
• pull in one's horns
• withdraw
• retrograde
• pull away
• draw back
• recede
• retire
• move back