retreat

1 of 2

noun

re·​treat ri-ˈtrēt 

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

retreat

2 of 2

verb

retreated; retreating; retreats

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

retreater noun

Synonyms

Noun

• pullback
• pullout
• recession
• retirement
• withdrawal

Verb

• back away
• drop back
• fall back
• pull out
• recede
• retire
• withdraw

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

But Brophy said the retreat was likely more a factor of investors’ astronomical expectations for companies in the AI space than any deeper threats to ASML’s business. —Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

Complaint alleges an August 2023 retreat was canceled When Berman shared information on Facebook about a retreat scheduled for August 2023, Wise attempted to discourage public attendance in social media conversations about the retreat. —Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

The Russian retreat from Kyiv and other major cities in the northeast and the prospect of more weapons from the West (with roads into Kyiv now under Ukrainian control) changed the military balance. —Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024

For the royal family, Balmoral Castle has long served as a retreat from the hustle and bustle—and the limelight—of London. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024

American late-night host Stephen Colbert brought up speculation about marital troubles to explain Kate’s retreat from royal duties, citing an old, unsubstantiated rumor that William cheated. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

In fact, the designers have already created a building pad, complete with utilities, that paves the way for an ancillary structure for guests or perhaps for an entertainment pavilion or wellness retreat. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

During my year on Maui, Ram Dass’s foundation led retreats at a local resort, where hundreds of people would gather for spiritual talks and chanting. —Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024

Back in 1933, banking scion William Avery Rockefeller built the Point Resort as a private retreat for his family in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. —Linda Laban, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024

Verb

And retreating from this work would have been, in a way, an act of retreating from him too, retreating from the possibility of being too enmeshed in a life with him. —Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

In late afternoon trading, shares had retreated to about $105, still a 19% rise from Wednesday’s close. —María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

The King and Queen often retreat to the residence, close to the royal family's Balmoral Castle and estate, around this time every year. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024

During the summers, the family would retreat to a house in the Tuscan countryside and make trips to see the works of the Florentine masters. —Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024

Rushton said officers retreated to a safe position, and the man came from around bushes, raised his gun and pointed it at them. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024

When the producers protested, Cimino put them off by showing some spectacular wide-angle shots — whatever the film’s flaws, Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography is jaw-dropping — and everybody retreated to their corners. —Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Yes, sometimes egos persuade people (of all varieties) to retreat into stubborn silent resentment instead of regulating their emotions and using their words. —Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

That led to some boos from the home crowd at the end of the second period as the Blues retreated to the locker room. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English retret, from Anglo-French retrait, from past participle of retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere, from re- + trahere to draw

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

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

Phrases Containing retreat

• beat a retreat
• duty to retreat
• made/beat a hasty retreat
• sound/signal the retreat

Kids Definition

retreat

1 of 2 noun

re·​treat ri-ˈtrēt 

1

a

: an act of going away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

b

: a military retreat from the enemy

c

: a signal for retreating

2

: a place of privacy or safety : refuge

3

: a period of withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

went on a spiritual retreat

retreat

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a retreat

2

: to slope backward

retreater noun

Legal Definition

retreat

noun

re·​treat

: 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.

retreat verb