retreat

re·treat | \ ri-ˈtrēt

How to pronounce retreat (audio)

\

Definition of retreat

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 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

retreat

retreated; retreating; retreats

Definition of retreat (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from retreat Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about retreat

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for retreat

Verb

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 retreat in a Sentence

Noun 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 Verb 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 on the Web: Noun By contrast, a vacation rental at similar cost offers separate areas – maybe even two or more separate bedrooms – where the generations can share common living and dining areas but retreat to their own turf for sleeping and downtime. — Ed Perkins, USA TODAY, "Hotels vs. vacation rentals: Which makes for a more pleasant family vacation experience?," 18 Dec. 2020 This retreat will not mark the end of globalization, a process that reached a historically high level about a decade ago. — Douglas A. Irwin, WSJ, "Globalization in Retreat," 16 Dec. 2020 Women tend to get tearful and sad; men get angry or withdraw from their family and retreat to the office. — Tribune News Service, oregonlive, "Dads can get postpartum depression, too," 15 Dec. 2020 Glacial retreat has exposed new land for these seabirds, which do not nest on ice and prefer to moult their feathers in freshwater streams. — Thomas Page, CNN, "Is an iceberg weighing hundreds of billions of tons on a penguin collision course?," 11 Dec. 2020 Such cuts have led some departments to lay off officers, cancel recruiting classes or retreat from hiring goals. — CBS News, "Minneapolis to shift $8 million from police budget amid defund the police movement," 10 Dec. 2020 This brings out whatever fight the fatally self-doubting Anthony has in him, but retreat is never far behind. — Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, "Review: A heavy dose of blarney fuels the Irish-set romantic comedy ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’," 9 Dec. 2020 The only moment the two share in real time, outside of his memories, takes place towards the end of the movie, when Marion drives to Mank’s secluded retreat. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "Marion Davies’ Scandalously Glamorous Life Deserves Its Own Movie," 7 Dec. 2020 After this retreat, there will still be American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan ... — Jamie Mcintyre, Washington Examiner, "Trump plan to pullback US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan draws vigorous bipartisan pushback," 18 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Parents retreat there to hide from their homebound children. — New York Times, "Working From Bed Is Actually Great," 31 Dec. 2020 By law, once a senator joins a House objection, lawmakers will retreat to their separate chambers for two hours of debate and a vote on the challenge — for each state challenged. — Jay Caruso, Washington Examiner, "Challenges and protests will create drama for electoral certification," 31 Dec. 2020 According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 25 states have laws stating that there is no duty to retreat before using deadly force against an attacker. — John Moritz, Arkansas Online, "Stand-ground bill introduced by state legislators," 24 Dec. 2020 Senate Bill 175, which cleared the Senate by a 18-11 vote, is the latest attempt by legislative Republicans to make Ohio the 36th state to no longer require a duty to retreat before using force. — Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, "‘Stand your ground’ bill passes Ohio General Assembly, heads to Gov. Mike DeWine," 18 Dec. 2020 Ohio’s big lame-duck gun fight could be over the duty to retreat. — Anna Staver, The Enquirer, "What to expect in Ohio's 2020 lame-duck session: Stand your ground, House Bill 6, more," 30 Nov. 2020 Geologists visit volcanoes, botanists retreat to rain forests, and oceanographers swim the seas. — Nola Taylor Redd, Scientific American, "Suborbital Scientists Prepare to Storm the Heavens," 5 Nov. 2020 Evening readings retreat through the 60s with overnight lows in the mid-50s. — Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Outstanding October weather continues as we warm into midweek," 18 Oct. 2020 Climatic shifts towards drier conditions may have caused forests to retreat in South America, perhaps to the detriment of its wildlife. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Nearly Half of South America’s Mammals Came from North America, New Research May Explain Why," 9 Oct. 2020

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about retreat

Dictionary Entries near retreat

Statistics for retreat

Last Updated

8 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retreat. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for retreat

retreat

noun

English Language Learners Definition of retreat

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

English Language Learners Definition of retreat (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for retreat in the English Language Learners Dictionary

retreat

re·treat | \ ri-ˈtrēt

\

Kids Definition of retreat

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

retreated; retreating

Kids Definition of retreat (Entry 2 of 2)

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.

retreat

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.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

conjecture

Listen to the pronunciation of conjecture

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Anagram puzzles meet word search.