retract

¹ American  

[ri-trakt] / rɪˈtrækt /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw back or in.

   to retract fangs.

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verb (used without object)

1. to draw back within itself or oneself, fold up, or the like, or to be capable of doing this.

   The blade retracts.

retract ² American  

[ri-trakt] / rɪˈtrækt /

verb (used with object)

1. to withdraw (a statement, opinion, etc.) as inaccurate or unjustified, especially formally or explicitly; take back.

   Synonyms:

   annul, nullify, abrogate, recant, renounce, deny

2. to withdraw or revoke (a decree, promise, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   annul, nullify, abrogate, recant, renounce, deny

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verb (used without object)

1. to draw or shrink back.

2. to withdraw a promise, vow, etc.

3. to make a disavowal of a statement, opinion, etc.; recant.

retract British  

/ ˌriːtrækˈteɪʃən, rɪˈtrækt /

verb

1. (tr) to draw in (a part or appendage)

   a snail can retract its horns

   to retract the landing gear of an aircraft

2. to withdraw (a statement, opinion, charge, etc) as invalid or unjustified

3. to go back on (a promise or agreement)

4. (intr) to shrink back, as in fear

5. phonetics to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue back away from the lips

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Other Word Forms

• retractability noun
• retractable adjective
• retractation noun
• retractibility noun
• retractible adjective
• retractive adjective
• unretractable adjective

Etymology

Origin of retract¹

1400–50; late Middle English retracten < Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere to draw back, equivalent to re- re- + tractus ( tract ¹ )

Origin of retract²

1535–45; < Latin retractāre to reconsider, withdraw, equivalent to re- re- + tractāre to drag, pull, take in hand (frequentative of trahere to pull)

Example Sentences

A report claiming the number of young people attending church in England and Wales had skyrocketed has been retracted, after the underlying data was found to be flawed.

From BBC

When the government's press team was informed, the offer was retracted.

From BBC

But the bank quickly retracted it and apologized for the idea, with its research analysts later attributing the continuing downturn to “media attention.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Burrows had previously retracted the statement, in which he is also alleged to have said the group suing the publisher were "a small handful of my targets".

From BBC

Mullin also retracted remarks he made at the time in which he called one of the two Americans killed in Minneapolis a "deranged individual."

From Barron's

Related Words

• back down
• back off
• cancel
• deny
• disavow
• disown
• pull back
• recant
• renege
• renounce
• repeal
• repudiate
• rescind
• reverse
• revoke
• rule out
• take back
• withdraw