retractable
Americanadjective
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capable of being withdrawn or rescinded.
-
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.
A larger structure measuring roughly 40 metres by 20 metres resembles a retractable aircraft maintenance hangar.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
Spanning about 14,400 square feet, the six-bedroom residence cantilevers over the ocean and has a retractable wooden roof.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Trapped in this stiffer, earlier incarnation, the only acting Strong is able to do is poke his head straight up from his shoulders until he resembles a retractable pen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The stadium's retractable roof makes it well suited to a December event and there is precedent for late night boxing.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
