retractable
Americanadjective
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capable of being withdrawn or rescinded.
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able to be drawn in.
Explanation
Something retractable can be retracted: in other words, it can withdraw or collapse — like an umbrella or a cat's set of claws. Cats have claws that can be drawn in to their paws or extended. Anything like that is retractable. Retractable things — like an umbrella — have a part that is concealed that can then be extended outward. A police baton is retractable if it can be short and compact or long and extended. A retractable roof can be extended as needed. Some sports stadiums have a retractable dome that can be put up when it's raining.
Vocabulary lists containing retractable
Cat Vocabulary: A Feline Lexicon
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First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
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What If It's Us
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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.
To advertise her business, she affixed a decal and phone number to her white 1984 Pontiac Fiero, a sporty two-seater with retractable headlights.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
Expansive living spaces fill the main floor of the residence, including a stunning sitting room with a retractable glass wall that opens the area to another outdoor seating space.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026
Unlike traditional handles that stick out on the door surface and can always be grasped by hand, the retractable handle sinks into the door and isn’t graspable in its default position.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
The 53,000-capacity Docklands Stadium in Melbourne is the only one with a retractable roof, which will remain closed for all eight matches there.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
The luxurious stone villa had balconies overlooking the sea, a badminton court, and a swimming pool with a retractable glass roof.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
