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

Trump's first pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination last week, had been under investigation by the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee for sex trafficking.

From Salon

"Notwithstanding the difference of view, Barclays has concluded that the interests of the bank, its shareholders and other stakeholders are best served by withdrawing the references."

From BBC

They will assuredly favor withdrawing from, undermining and hindering the authority of existing international agreements, international organizations, and established alliances and partnerships that impose entangling obligations on the U.S. and inhibit its freedom of action.

From Salon

"To get the £5,000 back, you had to invest £10,000," Des explains, "I wasn't allowed to withdraw anything until the day that he tells me I can".

From BBC

Gaetz has denied wrongdoing, but said he withdrew from consideration because he was becoming a "distraction".

From BBC

Related Words

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