retreat
noun
the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action.
have been retreating
-
present perfect progressiveof retreat.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Investors have been retreating, withdrawing nearly $500 million so far this year from exchange-traded funds that invest in European stocks, according to FactSet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Stocks broadly have been retreating in August following a torrid first seven months of the year.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2023
He said that the glaciers in recent years have been retreating and that the only way to view them up close is by helicopter.
From US News ● Nov. 21, 2015
TV market last year but sees an opening: Japanese companies have been retreating from TVs, squeezed between high-end South Korean models and cheaper Chinese ones.
From BusinessWeek ● Jul. 31, 2014
Since yesterday the Russians have been retreating on the center front, between the Pissa and Vistula Rivers, in the direction of Narew.
From New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915 by Various
