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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing.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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing.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

Arsenal teenager Katie Reid was called up to the last squad but was forced to withdraw when she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Read more on BBC

Thousands of Afghans scrambled to escape the country in 2021, many via Kabul, as the US withdrew its troops and the Taliban swept in.

Read more on BBC

Sana said three people were arrested by the troops before they withdrew.

Read more on BBC

Word of the probe prompted American International Group to withdraw a lucrative job offer that would have made Neal one of its top executives, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She eventually delivered an ultimatum: If the Indians don’t decide between Delhi and Washington as a location within 48 hours, she would withdraw American support from the investigation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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