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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 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

• withdrawable adjective
• withdrawer noun
• 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

Frequent complaints about the Lisa include that savers face a penalty for withdrawing money early, meaning they could lose 6.25% of their own savings.

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The two had dated while working on the same case, though Wade later withdrew from the case after a judge insisted one of them leave.

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For some, withdrawing into a small personal space and lowering expectations seems like a rational, even self-protective, response.

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Kastrati was earlier acquitted of charges of breach of the peace, stealing a car and motoring offences when the prosecution withdrew the charges.

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He does not want the chancellor to "touch pensions" by changing the tax-free lump sum allowance for withdrawing pension savings.

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Related Words

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