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capable of being withdrawn or rescinded.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.
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
The Principality Stadium's retractable roof allows organisers to capture the immense scale, atmosphere and gate revenue of a stadium show while offering full protection from the elements.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
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
A book about rockets and space travel written in 1948, a retractable fountain pen, a bottle of dark red ink that looked like blood, and a star chart.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
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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.
