withdraw

American  

[with-draw, with-] / wɪðˈdrɔ, wɪθ- /

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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing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.

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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withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing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 British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See depart.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of withdraw

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

Related Words

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