withdraw

[with-draw, with-]

verb (used with object)

withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 

1. to draw back, away, or aside; take back; remove.

   She withdrew her hand from his. He withdrew his savings from the bank.

2. to retract or recall.

   to withdraw an untrue charge.

   Synonyms: disavow, rescind, revoke

3. to cause (a person) to undergo withdrawal from addiction to a substance.

verb (used without object)

withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 

1. to go or move back, away, or aside; retire; retreat.

   to withdraw from the room.

2. to remove oneself from some activity, competition, etc..

   He withdrew before I could nominate him.

3. to cease using or consuming an addictive narcotic (followed byfrom ).

   to withdraw from heroin.

4. Parliamentary Procedure.,  to remove an amendment, motion, etc., from consideration.

withdraw

/ wɪðˈdrɔː /

verb

1. (tr) to take or draw back or away; remove

2. (tr) to remove from deposit or investment in a bank, building society, etc

3. (tr) to retract or recall (a statement, promise, etc)

4. (intr) to retire or retreat

   the troops withdrew

5. to back out (of) or depart (from)

   he withdrew from public life

6. (intr) to detach oneself socially, emotionally, or mentally

Other Word Forms

• withdrawer noun
• withdrawable adjective
• withdrawingness noun
• nonwithdrawable adjective
• unwithdrawable adjective
• unwithdrawing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of withdraw¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, withdraw is from the Middle English word withdrawen. See with-, draw

Word History and Origins

Origin of withdraw¹

C13: from _with (in the sense: away from) + _draw

Synonym Study

See depart.

Example Sentences

In August the group dropped its demand that Israel withdraw completely from the corridor running along Gaza’s border with Egypt as well as security zones around the enclave’s borders with Israel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Just when the Scottish media had been drawn into a "Steven Gerrard returns to Rangers" frenzy, the former England midfielder withdrew from the process as the Scottish Premiership club seek a new head coach.

Read more on BBC

Any optimism that 38-year-old Fatima Salem might have felt when Israeli forces withdrew from her neighbourhood in Gaza City was shattered when she returned home to find it gone.

Read more on Barron's

Britain's flagship polar research vessel heads to Antarctica next week to help advance dozens of climate change-linked science projects, as Western nations spearhead studies there while the United States withdraws.

Read more on Barron's

He has recently expressed a desire to return to management following unsuccessful spells with Aston Villa and Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, but withdrew from the interview process on Saturday.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• depart 
• disengage 
• drop out 
• eliminate 
• go 
• leave 
• pull back 
• pull out 
• quit 
• retire 
• retreat