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Origin of withdrawn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Quiet loners are withdrawn — that's a word for people who keep to themselves to such an extent that it seems a little unhealthy. We can all be withdrawn sometimes, especially when we're sad or depressed about something. Some people get withdrawn when they're angry. A withdrawn person can be hard to find, and even if they're around, hard to talk to — withdrawn people don't like to talk, or they try to talk as little as possible. A person who is withdrawn from the rest of the world for a long period of time is a recluse — an extremely solitary, withdrawn person.
Vocabulary lists containing withdrawn
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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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.
Most of the bearded revolutionaries who entered Havana with Valdés in 1959 have died or withdrawn from public life.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
Either way the Irish government has not yet withdrawn its inter-state legal case against the United Kingdom at the European Court of Human Rights.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
In the aftermath, key developers, including Compass Datacenters, have withdrawn, pointing to legal uncertainty and regulatory hurdles, even though the company invested tens of millions of dollars in the effort.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
Under the five-year rule, most annuities must be withdrawn within five years of the owner’s death.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
When he’s not causing noticeable disturbances, he’s somewhat withdrawn.
From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper
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.
