withdrawal

American  

[with-draw-uhl, -drawl, with-] / wɪðˈdrɔ əl, -ˈdrɔl, wɪθ- /

noun

withdrawals plural

1. Also withdrawment. the act or condition of withdrawing.

2. Pharmacology. the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug.

3. coitus interruptus.

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withdrawal British  

/ wɪðˈdrɔːəl /

noun

1. an act or process of withdrawing; retreat, removal, or detachment

2. the period a drug addict goes through following abrupt termination in the use of narcotics, usually characterized by physical and mental symptoms ( withdrawal symptoms )

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withdrawal Scientific  

/ wĭth-drô′əl,wĭth- /

1. Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The symptoms of withdrawal include headache, diarrhea, and tremors and can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the extent of the body's reliance on the addictive substance.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• withdrawals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of withdrawal

First recorded in 1740–50; withdraw + -al ²

Explanation

Withdrawal is when you take something out, like making a withdrawal from your bank account. When you announced you were no longer running for president, your withdrawal from the race disappointed your many supporters. Withdrawal is also used to describe the painful experience that results when you stop taking an addictive drug (when you "take it out" of your system). The state of being emotionally detached is called withdrawal. If a country terminates an agreement like a treaty, that's a withdrawal too. Remember that withdrawal ends in "wal" and not just "wl."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

withdrawal withdrawals

The Englishwoman's withdrawal paved the way for a good shot at that coveted gold, but she still had to go out and deliver.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Some possible answers include because you are in a low tax bracket, Roth conversions make sense, RMDs are kicking in and inherited IRA distributions have withdrawal deadlines.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

More generally, he added, "this withdrawal weakens the international architecture of criminal justice and heightens fears that the perpetrators of the most serious crimes will escape any prosecution".

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Carly Simon on Monday shared a lengthy and candid letter regarding the state of her health, which she said led to her recent withdrawal from the public eye.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

On October 13, after two more months of legal wrangling, the Crown suddenly announced the withdrawal of the indictment altogether.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

“Actual behavior for retirees depending primarily on portfolio withdrawals doesn’t match the model anyway,” Cox said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Tournament director Salah Tahlak said players who made late withdrawals from tournaments should be docked points, while Sabalenka said criticism of her was "ridiculous" and that she may not play at the tournament again.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Roth balances also can pass to heirs undepleted by age-related mandatory withdrawals that apply to traditional accounts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

In fact, many affluent retirees with very large traditional IRAs intentionally accelerate withdrawals or Roth conversions for that reason.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

Brinker for example had begun a long, decisive sequence of withdrawals from school activity ever since the morning I deserted his enlistment plan.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Related Words

• departure
• disengagement
• exit
• exodus
• resignation
• retirement