withdraw

[with-draw, with-]

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verb (used with object), with·drew, with·drawn, with·draw·ing.

to draw back, away, or aside; take back; remove: She withdrew her hand from his. He withdrew his savings from the bank.

to retract or recall: to withdraw an untrue charge.

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

verb (used without object), with·drew, with·drawn, with·draw·ing.

to go or move back, away, or aside; retire; retreat: to withdraw from the room.

to remove oneself from some activity, competition, etc.: He withdrew before I could nominate him.

to cease using or consuming an addictive narcotic (followed by from): to withdraw from heroin.

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

Origin of withdraw

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

Related formswith·draw·a·ble, adjectivewith·draw·er, nounwith·draw·ing·ness, nounnon·with·draw·a·ble, adjectiveun·with·draw·a·ble, adjectiveun·with·draw·ing, adjective

Synonyms for withdraw

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2. revoke, rescind, disavow.

Synonym study

4. See depart.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for withdraw

quit, depart, retire, disengage, leave, eliminate, go, retreat, bar, reverse, abolish, ban, revoke, rescind, blow, abjure, recede, secede, switch, book

Examples from the Web for withdraw

Contemporary Examples of withdraw

“After the withdraw, they realized that firefighter Craig-Lewis was missing,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter
Christopher Moraff
December 13, 2014
She was separated from her colleagues after they were overcome by smoke and heat and ordered to withdraw.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter
Christopher Moraff
December 13, 2014
A cruiser shows up and eyes narrow and citizens often withdraw.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner
Mike Barnicle
December 8, 2014
LaBeouf claims that he did wish to withdraw from public life.
Shia LaBeouf Claims He Was Raped During His Performance Art Project #IAMSORRY
Marlow Stern
November 28, 2014
“Sometimes you might withdraw a ventilator in cases of very severe and permanent neurological damage,” Joffe said.
U.K. Courts Grant Mother Right to End Her 12-Year-Old Disabled Daughter’s Life
Elizabeth Picciuto
November 4, 2014

Historical Examples of withdraw

But if this goes on, it is the gentlemen who ought to withdraw.
Malbone
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Here is her father; withdraw a little, and let me tell him who you are.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
Send an army into Attica, and compel the Athenians to withdraw their forces from Potidaea.
Stories from Thucydides
H. L. Havell
Boabdil motioned to the Moor to withdraw, and an alfaqui advanced in his stead.
Leila, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The grey-haired gentleman had roused himself, and was preparing to withdraw.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for withdraw

withdraw

verb -draws, -drawing, -drew or -drawn

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

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

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

(intr) to retire or retreatthe troops withdrew

(intr often foll by from) to back out (of) or depart (from)he withdrew from public life

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

Derived Formswithdrawable, adjectivewithdrawer, noun

Word Origin for withdraw

C13: from with (in the sense: away from) + draw

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for withdraw

early 13c., "to take back," from with "away" + drawen "to draw," possibly a loan-translation of Latin retrahere "to retract." Sense of "to remove oneself" is recorded from c.1300.