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

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

The FJC is the education arm of the federal judiciary, and we told you recently that it retracted the climate chapter of the Fourth Edition of its Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, after an online backlash CNN has retracted a comment it published about the alleged attackers.

From The Wall Street Journal

When the public hears about scientific fraud, the focus often falls on isolated cases involving falsified data, plagiarism or retracted studies.

From Science Daily

After a truth-telling lecture tour failed to attract much of an audience, Maggie retracted her confession: “I gave expression to utterances that had no foundation in fact.”

From Literature

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