withdraw

[with-draw, with-]

verb (used with object)

withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 

1. to draw back, away, or aside; take back; remove.

   She withdrew her hand from his. He withdrew his savings from the bank.

2. to retract or recall.

   to withdraw an untrue charge.

   Synonyms: disavow, rescind, revoke

3. to cause (a person) to undergo withdrawal from addiction to a substance.

verb (used without object)

withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing. 

1. to go or move back, away, or aside; retire; retreat.

   to withdraw from the room.

2. to remove oneself from some activity, competition, etc..

   He withdrew before I could nominate him.

3. to cease using or consuming an addictive narcotic (followed byfrom ).

   to withdraw from heroin.

4. Parliamentary Procedure.,  to remove an amendment, motion, etc., from consideration.

withdraw

/ wɪðˈdrɔː /

verb

1. (tr) to take or draw back or away; remove

2. (tr) to remove from deposit or investment in a bank, building society, etc

3. (tr) to retract or recall (a statement, promise, etc)

4. (intr) to retire or retreat

   the troops withdrew

5. to back out (of) or depart (from)

   he withdrew from public life

6. (intr) to detach oneself socially, emotionally, or mentally

Other Word Forms

• withdrawable adjective
• withdrawer noun
• withdrawingness noun
• nonwithdrawable adjective
• unwithdrawable adjective
• unwithdrawing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of withdraw¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, withdraw is from the Middle English word withdrawen. See with-, draw

Word History and Origins

Origin of withdraw¹

C13: from _with (in the sense: away from) + _draw

Synonym Study

See depart.

Example Sentences

Recognising that her twin passions were music and children, she quietly withdrew from royal life and took a job as a music teacher at a primary school in Kingston upon Hull.

From BBC

Judah Cousin, 19, said male pattern baldness caused him to withdraw from family and friends and that his life was "controlled" by the condition.

From BBC

He withdrew $500 million in funding earmarked for developing vaccines against respiratory viruses.

From Los Angeles Times

Hamas reiterated its call for a deal that would see hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, Israeli forces withdraw, border crossings reopened, and the start of reconstruction.

From BBC

A month after Kyle's letter was sent, staff at the Turing institute warned the charity was at risk of collapse, after the threat to withdraw its funding.

From BBC

Related Words

• depart 
• disengage 
• drop out 
• eliminate 
• go 
• leave 
• pull back 
• pull out 
• quit 
• retire 
• retreat