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capable of being withdrawn or rescinded.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.
Sweeping, retractable patio doors in the kitchen open up to a dual-barbecue outdoor cooking space.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
Thanks to retractable glass walls, the entire property feels connected as there’s easy access to the outdoors.
From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026
Some venues, including stadiums in Houston and Dallas, also have retractable roofs and climate control to moderate conditions.
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
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
I smack my forehead; there’s totally a charging station with retractable cords in the dugout, but even going back to charge for five minutes would add fifteen to my mission.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
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.
