-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- beleaguer scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny
- ALL
Definition of retreat
1a (1) : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable (2) : the process of receding from a position or state attained the retreat of a glacierb (1) : the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position (2) : a signal for retreatingc (1) : a signal given by bugle at the beginning of a military flag-lowering ceremony (2) : a military flag-lowering ceremony
2 : a place of privacy or safety : refuge
3 : a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director
Explore M-W
Examples of retreat in a Sentence
Some of her friends were surprised by her retreat from public life following her defeat in the election.
we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered
Recent Examples of retreat from the Web
-
A serene, private retreat where your beach is steps away.
-
Members of the public can spend an entire day unwinding at Rancho La Puerta, the legendary 3,000-acre rustic wellness retreat in Tecate, or even just grab a bite to eat at a new Mexican cafe adjacent to its organic farm and cooking school.
-
This week Mills is opening a summer retreat to Maine to help others like him who have suffered severe war injuries.
-
Another Failing Grade Front-month Brent oil futures fell below $45 per barrel on Wednesday, their lowest since November, with the retreat marking a fresh bear market for this grade of crude.
-
This was followed by The New York Times publishing an internal e-mail detailing cocaine and groping at a company retreat.
-
The downstairs study is a quiet retreat overlooking the sparkling pool and covered patio.
-
Shot on location at a community retreat (and, briefly, at a hotel that was featured in Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo), this unique effort is an equally optimistic and despairing look at the ongoing clash of global cultures.
-
It will be held at 5 p.m. during the park’s daily flag retreat proceedings near the entrance of the theme park and on Main Street U.S.A. Magic Kingdom visitors will be able to observe Tuesday’s ceremony.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retreat'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of retreat
Middle English retret, from Anglo-French retrait, from past participle of retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere, from re- + trahere to draw
retreat
Definition of retreat
retreater
nounExamples of retreat in a Sentence
When the enemy attacked, our troops were forced to retreat.
They retreated behind trees for safety.
He quickly retreated from the room.
After her defeat, she retreated from politics.
Recent Examples of retreat from the Web
-
Even in the earlier battle for East Mosul, IS fighters ceded one neighbourhood after another, and retreated west over the Tigris and onto Syria.
-
In Your Life: Practice learning when to retreat this month, little kitten.
-
And then at the end of May, Rauner left the Democrats in the lurch, ordering his Republican senators to retreat from the deal.
-
But Brooks isn't planning on retreating on important issues anytime soon.
-
The two women argued, and cousins Eric and Tequila Stephens testified that Mayhand retreated to the car.
-
Around Arch Creek, a 3,000-acre swath of low-lying land and finger piers home to thousands of working-class families in Northeast Dade, the government is exploring the idea of retreating from the most flood-prone areas.
-
When the ice sheet retreated and sea level rose, the seafloor was still depressed for a time.
-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans retreated from signing contracts to buy homes in April for the second straight month, a possible sign that a declining number of homes on the market are stifling sales during the traditional spring buying season.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retreat'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of retreat
15th century
Synonym Discussion of retreat
RETREAT Defined for English Language Learners
retreat
playDefinition of retreat for English Language Learners
-
: movement by soldiers away from an enemy because the enemy is winning or has won a battle
-
: movement away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
-
: the act of changing your opinion or position on something because it is unpopular
retreat
Definition of retreat for English Language Learners
-
: to move back to get away from danger, attack, etc.
-
: to move or go away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
-
: to change your opinion or statement about something because it is unpopular
RETREAT Defined for Kids
Definition of retreat for Students
1 : an act of going back or away especially from something dangerous, difficult, or disagreeable The enemy is in retreat.
2 : a military signal for turning away from the enemy He sounded the retreat.
3 : a place of privacy or safety a mountain retreat
4 : a period of time in which a person goes away to pray, think quietly, or study
Definition of retreat for Students
retreated
;retreating
1 : to move back or away especially from something dangerous, difficult, or disagreeable The troops retreated at nightfall.
2 : to go to a place of privacy or safety The family retreated to their summer home.
Law Dictionary
retreat
Legal Definition of retreat
: the act or process of withdrawing from a dangerous situation
retreat
verbAdditional Notes on retreat
Many jurisdictions require that a person must have at least attempted a retreat, if it was possible to do so with safety, in order for a defense of self-defense to prevail. Retreat from an attack in one's own home, however, is usually not required.
Learn More about retreat
-
See words that rhyme with retreat Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for retreat Spanish Central: Translation of retreat Nglish: Translation of retreat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of retreat for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up retreat? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!