retreat

noun re·treat \ ri-ˈtrēt \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of retreat

1 a (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 glacier

b (1) : the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position

(2) : a signal for retreating

c (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

See retreat defined for English-language learners

See retreat defined for kids

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

By Friday morning, markets the world over were in full retreat.

— clay chandler, Fortune, "America's Trade War with China: Get Ready for "a Little Pain"," 7 Apr. 2018
Syphilis was thought to be in retreat not long ago, the scourge of 19th-century libertines and Prohibition gangsters.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Hartford Secures Grant To Combat Syphilis, On The Rebound In Connecticut And The Country," 6 Apr. 2018
In February 1968 — when death threats were reaching a fevered pitch — King attended a ministers’ retreat at the Sheraton Four Ambassadors in Miami.

— skyler swisher, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Amid renewed activism, South Florida remembers 50th anniversary of MLK assassination," 4 Apr. 2018
Tempers flared, and the scientists, fearing for their safety, beat a retreat.

— sanjay kumar, Science | AAAS, "India’s paleontologists fight destruction of its fossil riches," 4 Apr. 2018
There are numerous outdoor living/entertaining/gathering areas including a large outdoor retreat with a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace, kitchen and seating areas that overlook the pool, spa and backyard.

— lisa zapalac, Houston Chronicle, "Hunters Creek Village home featured in magazine," 1 Apr. 2018
This is a landscape rolled and moved by the tides, each pebble lifted and dropped, lifted and dropped by the run and ebb, each advance and retreat carried a little farther upcoast.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Read an excerpt from Luna author Ian McDonald’s heartbreaking new time-travel romance," 31 Mar. 2018
Others could not resist mocking the less-than-dabangg leading man in retreat.

— The Economist, "Nepalese nationalists force a Bollywood muscleman to retreat," 28 Mar. 2018
The populist-nationalist wing of the administration, with its apocalyptic take on international affairs, appeared to be in retreat.

— robert f. worth, New York Times, "Can Jim Mattis Hold the Line in Trump’s ‘War Cabinet’?," 26 Mar. 2018

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

retreat Synonyms

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

retreat

verb

Definition of retreat

intransitive verb

1 : to make a retreat : withdraw

2 : to slope backward

transitive verb

: to draw or lead back : remove; specifically : to move (a piece) back in chess

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retreater

noun

See retreat defined for English-language learners

Examples 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

The officer, whose name was not released by the university, continues to retreat for about 40 seconds and repeatedly shouts warnings.

— aamer madhani, USA TODAY, "University of Chicago releases video of cop shooting disturbed student," 4 Apr. 2018
Mo Pete's is indeed a place to retreat, take in major sporting events on one of 18 televisions while indulging in a variety of food and beverages surrounded by unique sports memorabilia.

— mark spezia, Detroit Free Press, "Morris Peterson opens his sports bar to Final Four viewers — even Michigan," 30 Mar. 2018
According to the actor, Feldman’s security guard instructed the man to get back in the car and the man appeared to be retreating back to his vehicle.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Corey Feldman Details the Terrifying Moment He Was Allegedly Stabbed While in His Car," 28 Mar. 2018
His friend was forced to retreat to the shore because of the frigid water temperatures.

— maureen c. gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "IFD: Father, 3-year-old in critical condition after car goes into Castleton pond," 25 Mar. 2018
Then the police began to retreat, with officers on foot walking backward and patrol cars going slowly in reverse, forming a line.

— barbara harvey, sacbee, "One arrest reported in Friday’s protests over Clark’s fatal shooting | The Sacramento Bee," 24 Mar. 2018
Which is why those who really want to retreat from news coverage of Trump era have to also give up on politics and pursue a truly monastic existence.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "The Delusions of Trump-Era Escapism," 19 Mar. 2018
Later Friday, government forces captured the town of Jisreen, closing in on Saqba from the east, north, and south, forcing opposition fighters to retreat west.

— philip issa, BostonGlobe.com, "In Syria, at least 100 killed in attacks in single day," 16 Mar. 2018
Cooke ignored that advice and insisted through its lawyers on business as usual, and the governor and agencies had to retreat.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Puget Sound region’s Atlantic salmon fish farms could be headed for final harvest," 26 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of retreat

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

retreat Synonyms

Synonyms

back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw;

Antonyms

advance;

Near Antonyms

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave;

Related Words

flee, fly;

flinch, recoil, shrink;

chicken (out);

bow out;

back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down;

detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away;

abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate;

Phrases

give ground, give way, lose ground;

Synonym Discussion of retreat

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

RETREAT Defined for English Language Learners

retreat

noun

Definition 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

verb

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

retreat

noun re·treat \ ri-ˈtrēt \

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

retreat

verb

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

noun re·treat

legal Definition of retreat

: the act or process of withdrawing from a dangerous situation

Note: 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.

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