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 Swedish migration minister told the BBC that the government will "examine whether there are measures we can take to make the process easier for those affected" by some consequences of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Because Roth IRA conversions reduce the balance in the owner’s traditional IRAs, there are fewer taxable IRA funds available for withdrawal to pay expenses that are deductible.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

If you separate from your employer during or after the calendar year in which you turn 55, you can take money out of that employer’s plan with no early withdrawal penalty.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

He said the government would continue working for the release of all Lebanese detainees, information about those still missing, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

And: Was my dissertation much more than an act of social withdrawal?

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

"Fortunately I've got over the caffeine withdrawals," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Required withdrawals can shower these savers with unneeded income that raises tax rates, reduces tax breaks and triggers tax increases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

With hardship withdrawals, an employee has to prove an “immediate and heavy financial need” under Internal Revenue Service rules.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

From there the growth is tax free, the withdrawals are tax free, and there are no required distributions on them in a Roth IRA.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

The British army in northern France was “making strategic withdrawals to previously prepared positions.”

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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