withdrawal

American  

[with-draw-uhl, -drawl, with-] / wɪðˈdrɔ əl, -ˈdrɔl, wɪθ- /

noun

• withdrawals
  plural

1. Also withdrawment. the act or condition of withdrawing.

2. Pharmacology. the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug.

3. coitus interruptus.

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withdrawal British  

/ wɪðˈdrɔːəl /

noun

1. an act or process of withdrawing; retreat, removal, or detachment

2. the period a drug addict goes through following abrupt termination in the use of narcotics, usually characterized by physical and mental symptoms ( withdrawal symptoms )

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withdrawal Scientific  

/ wĭth-drô′əl,wĭth- /

1. Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The symptoms of withdrawal include headache, diarrhea, and tremors and can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the extent of the body's reliance on the addictive substance.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• withdrawals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of withdrawal

First recorded in 1740–50; withdraw + -al ²

Explanation

Withdrawal is when you take something out, like making a withdrawal from your bank account. When you announced you were no longer running for president, your withdrawal from the race disappointed your many supporters. Withdrawal is also used to describe the painful experience that results when you stop taking an addictive drug (when you "take it out" of your system). The state of being emotionally detached is called withdrawal. If a country terminates an agreement like a treaty, that's a withdrawal too. Remember that withdrawal ends in "wal" and not just "wl."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

withdrawal withdrawals

The withdrawal is "painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the Contest again next year," said Zimmerman.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

South Korea’s president publicly opposed the withdrawal of U.S. air defense assets this spring from his country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Speaking outside court in Pretoria after the withdrawal of the charges, Gen Khumalo expressed relief that the "truth at least is out".

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Gasoline inventories increased by 688,000 barrels to 209.4 million barrels versus expectations of a 1.5 million barrel withdrawal, and were 5% below the five-year average.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

The slow pace of withdrawal was necessary, he explained, because American forces needed to stay long enough to ensure an “honorable” end to the war.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

There are no forced withdrawals and no penalties for early payouts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

At the same time, human withdrawals of groundwater have become an increasingly significant source of depletion, particularly in downstream agricultural regions that rely heavily on irrigation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

The ICC expressed concern over those withdrawals, asserting that such countries risked undermining the collective pursuit of justice.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

But delaying withdrawals from your retirement accounts and actually declining a $42,000 bonus are two very different prospects.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Was it possible—the tension, the withdrawals, the pillow-muted sobbing behind locked doors, all due to an out-of-order backbone?

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Related Words

• departure
• disengagement
• exit
• exodus
• resignation
• retirement