retract

verb

re·​tract ri-ˈtrakt 

retracted; retracting; retracts

transitive verb

1

: to draw back or in

cats retract their claws

2

a

: take back, withdraw

retract a confession

b

: disavow

intransitive verb

1

: to draw or pull back

2

: to recant or disavow something

retractable

ri-ˈtrak-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• abjure
• abnegate
• forswear
• foreswear
• recant
• renege
• renounce
• repeal
• repudiate
• take back
• unsay
• withdraw

Choose the Right Synonym for retract

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief.

abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath.

abjured the errors of his former faith

renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown.

renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting

forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal.

I cannot forswear my principles

recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught.

if they recant they will be spared

retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation.

the newspaper had to retract the story

recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward.

recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.

the flood waters gradually receded

retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.

retreating soldiers

retract implies drawing back from an extended position.

a cat retracting its claws

back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.

backed off on the throttle

Examples of retract in a Sentence

A cat can retract its claws.

The pilot retracted the plane's landing gear.

The plane's landing gear failed to retract.

Their college grants were retracted.

They retracted the job offer.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the same time, the justices retracted their earlier decision to grant Louisiana's petition for review, instead sending the case back to the court of appeals to either draw new congressional lines itself or allow the state legislature to do it. —Nina Totenberg, NPR, 15 May 2024

The microphone itself retracts into the headset when not in use, blending pretty seamlessly into the earcup. —Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere — more at retreat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

retract

verb

re·​tract ri-ˈtrakt 

1

: to draw or pull back or in

a cat can retract its claws

2

: to withdraw (as an offer, a statement, or a claim)

the newspaper retracted the story

retractable

-ˈtrak-tə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

retract

transitive verb

re·​tract ri-ˈtrakt 

: to draw back or in

retract the lower jaw

compare protract

intransitive verb

: to draw something (as tissue) back or in

also : to use a retractor