- past participle of withdraw.
verb
adjective
-
unusually reserved, introverted, or shy
-
secluded or remote
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of withdrawn
First recorded in 1610–20, for the adjective
Explanation
Quiet loners are withdrawn — that's a word for people who keep to themselves to such an extent that it seems a little unhealthy. We can all be withdrawn sometimes, especially when we're sad or depressed about something. Some people get withdrawn when they're angry. A withdrawn person can be hard to find, and even if they're around, hard to talk to — withdrawn people don't like to talk, or they try to talk as little as possible. A person who is withdrawn from the rest of the world for a long period of time is a recluse — an extremely solitary, withdrawn person.
Vocabulary lists containing withdrawn
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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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"The Scholarship Jacket" by Marta Salinas
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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.
A Dow Jones spokesperson said the subpoenas were later withdrawn.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 11, 2026
He was dragged into suspending his campaign and has now withdrawn from the race.
From Slate • Jul. 11, 2026
Platner said Monday that he would “reflect” on his candidacy but has not withdrawn.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026
Harry's spokesman said it was "disappointing" the offer to be hosted by his father King Charles III had been "withdrawn at the last moment", in a statement sent to AFP.
From Barron's • Jul. 6, 2026
In Nuenen, Vincent is not visibly grief-stricken, other than being more withdrawn than usual.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
