withdraw

[ with-draw, with- ]

verb (used with object)

, with·drew [wi, th, -, droo, with-], with·drawn [wi, th, -, drawn, with-], with·draw·ing.

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)

, with·drew [wi, th, -, droo, with-], with·drawn [wi, th, -, drawn, with-], with·draw·ing.

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 by from ):

   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. introften foll byfrom to back out (of) or depart (from)

   he withdrew from public life

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

Derived Forms

• withˈdrawer, noun
• withˈdrawable, adjective

Other Words From

• with·drawa·ble adjective
• with·drawer noun
• with·drawing·ness noun
• nonwith·drawa·ble adjective
• unwith·drawa·ble adjective
• unwith·drawing 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

Before the election, I thought that if Trump won or managed a successful coup, I would just withdraw.

From Salon

It comes after the Scottish Greens voted to withdraw their backing last month, meaning there was not enough support for the plans at Holyrood.

From BBC

The NPA says it will be left with no choice but to recommend pharmacies withdraw services from as early as the new year, if funding isn't increased.

From BBC

Media reports suggest that his team is preparing orders to withdraw once again when he takes office in January.

From BBC

The event will come at the end of a year during which the princess has had to largely withdraw from public duties following a cancer diagnosis, a period that the Prince of Wales recently described as the hardest of his life.

From BBC

Related Words

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