withdrawn

American  

[with-drawn, with-] / wɪðˈdrɔn, wɪθ- /

verb

1. past participle of withdraw.

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adjective

1. removed from circulation, contact, competition, etc.

2. shy; retiring; reticent.

   Synonyms:

   detached, aloof, reserved, quiet

withdrawn British  

/ wɪðˈdrɔːn /

verb

1. the past participle of withdraw

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adjective

1. unusually reserved, introverted, or shy

2. secluded or remote

Other Word Forms

• unwithdrawn adjective
• withdrawnness noun

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Origin of withdrawn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Quiet loners are withdrawn — that's a word for people who keep to themselves to such an extent that it seems a little unhealthy. We can all be withdrawn sometimes, especially when we're sad or depressed about something. Some people get withdrawn when they're angry. A withdrawn person can be hard to find, and even if they're around, hard to talk to — withdrawn people don't like to talk, or they try to talk as little as possible. A person who is withdrawn from the rest of the world for a long period of time is a recluse — an extremely solitary, withdrawn person.

Example Sentences

Swalwell has not withdrawn from the race, but within hours of the allegations top supporters withdrew endorsements of the East Bay Area congressman, including Sen. Adam Schiff, campaign co-chairs Reps.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Accordingly he offers a deeply interior, inward-looking turn that emphasizes how Willy has withdrawn from life and the sustenance of human connection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

In the case of the northern spotted owl, exemptions were initially granted for timber sales in Oregon but later withdrawn due to legal challenges and procedural violations.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

But the government has now withdrawn those after the BMA announced it was taking strike action.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

The big cat had eaten as much as it could manage and had withdrawn to rest.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer