withdraw
Americanverb (used with object)
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withdraws,
present (3rd person singular)
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withdrew,
past
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withdrawn,
past participle
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withdrawing
present participle
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to draw back, away, or aside; take back; remove.
She withdrew her hand from his. He withdrew his savings from the bank.
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to retract or recall.
to withdraw an untrue charge.
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to cause (a person) to undergo withdrawal from addiction to a substance.
verb (used without object)
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withdraws,
present (3rd person singular)
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withdrew,
past
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withdrawn,
past participle
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withdrawing
present participle
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to go or move back, away, or aside; retire; retreat.
to withdraw from the room.
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to remove oneself from some activity, competition, etc..
He withdrew before I could nominate him.
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to cease using or consuming an addictive narcotic (followed byfrom ).
to withdraw from heroin.
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Parliamentary Procedure. to remove an amendment, motion, etc., from consideration.
verb
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(tr) to take or draw back or away; remove
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(tr) to remove from deposit or investment in a bank, building society, etc
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(tr) to retract or recall (a statement, promise, etc)
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(intr) to retire or retreat
the troops withdrew
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to back out (of) or depart (from)
he withdrew from public life
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(intr) to detach oneself socially, emotionally, or mentally
Synonym Usage
See depart.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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withdrawernoun
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withdrawingnessnoun
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nonwithdrawableadjective
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unwithdrawableadjective
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unwithdrawingadjective
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withdrawableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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withdrawsimple
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withdrawssimple
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have withdrawnperfect
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has withdrawnperfect
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am withdrawingprogressive
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are withdrawingprogressive
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is withdrawingprogressive
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have been withdrawingperfect progressive
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has been withdrawingperfect progressive
Past
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withdrewsimple
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had withdrawnperfect
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was withdrawingprogressive
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were withdrawingprogressive
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had been withdrawingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of withdraw
First recorded in 1175–1225, withdraw is from the Middle English word withdrawen. See with-, draw
Explanation
To withdraw is to take something back or remove yourself from a situation. You might withdraw money from the bank or withdraw yourself from an argument if it gets out of hand. The word withdraw comes from Middle English and still means to draw or take back, like if you withdraw your hand when you’re done holding hands with someone. A newer definition of withdraw is to stay away from others or stop participating in something. You might withdraw from society by holing up in your house, or withdraw from school by dropping out. Another way to withdraw is to promise to do something but then change your mind.
Vocabulary lists containing withdraw
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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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.
See Examples For:
The idea is to avoid being held hostage by a major market correction or, worse, a recession by being forced to withdraw money during a down market.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
According to the report and lawyers involved in the case, he suggested a misunderstanding had occurred and asked the officer to withdraw.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
A panel of judges, following the law, refused to allow Habba to serve in an interim capacity, forcing Trump to withdraw her name from consideration for the job, designating her acting U.S. attorney instead.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
Later, Alias sent the undercover reporter a series of messages appearing to withdraw his offer of help.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
And Theo has decided to withdraw the ultimatum and to stay, given his financial needs.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Here’s a simplified example: John’s top tax rate is 22% and could be 22% when he withdraws from retirement accounts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Such thinking could shift if the US withdraws further from Asia.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
If she takes the full RMD in February and runs the QCD in November, she reports $40,000 of income but withdraws $55,000 overall.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
If he withdraws by Monday, though, local Republican officials in his district could approve a new nominee.
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2026
Nothing stirs; listless and wretched, like a condemned man, I sit there and the past withdraws itself.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
The company in August withdrew its full-year outlook and cut its dividend in an effort to turn its business around.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
In fact, landlords preferred to rent to Haitians who were willing to pay higher prices, and even withdrew 200 properties from a federal housing-voucher program for low-income families.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Days after the incident the United States withdrew all its B-1 bombers from the base.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
Jackson withdrew as Reiner’s counsel due to the financial issue and was replaced by L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
All his attendants withdrew and closed the gate behind them.
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
They also agreed to have a daily payback amount withdrawn from their business accounts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
When CBN was withdrawn, the mice also displayed physical symptoms resembling withdrawal, including head twitching and paw fluttering.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek's hopes of reaching the WTA Finals in Indian Wells have suffered a setback with the world number nine having withdrawn from the Ningbo Open because of a thigh injury.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
And if they are withdrawn for unreimbursed, qualified medical expenses, they are also tax-free.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
But that morning, the district attorney’s office had abruptly withdrawn the five-year offer.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
What matters most about I-bonds, if you save consistently over the years, is how you plan on withdrawing the money.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
"Giving up all these benefits, withdrawing from the Russia-Ukraine war, and entering uncertain dialogue with the United States is difficult to imagine right now," Yang said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
A little queue had formed at the station ATM, where commuters were withdrawing cash to buy physical transit cards so they could get on the train.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
HSA owners can invest account funds prior to withdrawing them, and nearly five million accounts do so.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Now, having got me up on that dangerous eminence, he suddenly and coolly announced he was withdrawing his support.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
