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withdrawn,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withdrawn,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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"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:
HRW said a report from Tebnin Governmental Hospital indicated that Khalil was most likely still alive when the paramedics were forced to withdraw from the site at around 17:53.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
European soccer’s governing body, which had threatened a World Cup boycott and seen several members formally withdraw their letters of endorsement for Infantino, didn’t immediately comment on FIFA’s announcement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
The Williams sisters were previously set to play doubles together at Wimbledon last month, but had to withdraw after Serena injured her knee during the singles competition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
This said it was "gravely disappointed" it could still not offer its Advanced Data Protection feature to new UK users, following its decision to withdraw it in February 2025.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
I withdraw my hand and kneel on the edge of the bed, taking hard swallows of air until the feeling subsides.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Under Maine law, the state’s Democratic Party can replace him if he withdraws before 5 p.m. on Monday, July 13.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
However, the event is floundering as one act after another withdraws.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
What would be the consequences if the U.S. withdraws from Syria?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
In moments of conflict, Lou withdraws while James feverishly tries to engage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025
From a pocket, the captain withdraws a loupe, a look of naked greed blooming on his face.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
But after Gaetz withdrew, Trump’s replacement, Pam Bondi, won bipartisan confirmation with the support of the entire Republican caucus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
By Saturday Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
However, Radis Community Care said it "voluntarily withdrew" from providing services in Portsmouth at the end of 2025.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Reddit determined that these users were engaged in protected activity under the First Amendment and objected to each, the person said, and DHS eventually withdrew the requests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The old woman withdrew into the shack and crouched behind the stump again.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
In one 2022/23 matter, a case was withdrawn from court because the defendant was not from the UK and had returned to their own country.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The funds were withdrawn without prior authorization of the Board of Trustees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Funds can be withdrawn tax-free at any point for medical expenses.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
The AKC Canine Health Foundation—which partly funded the work—says owners should watch for unusually withdrawn or clingy behavior, staring at walls, confusion in familiar places and restlessness at night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
There was a monthly meeting of the alethiometer research group coming up, when they compared results and discussed lines of approach, and if she had nothing to say, her privileges might be withdrawn.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina announced he won’t seek re-election, withdrawing from the race on Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Roth-conversion strategies work best when you pay the tax due with cash on hand, rather than from the money you’re withdrawing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
It is another frustrating setback for Draper and a similar scenario to the All England Club, where he talked positively about his fitness before withdrawing just 24 hours before his first-round match.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Later that year, he was commended for withdrawing encircled Ukrainian units from a border area of the Luhansk region.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“It is not time,” he said, and she felt him withdrawing from her.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
