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.)

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