withdraw

verb with·draw \ wit͟h-ˈdrȯ , with- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: withdraw in a Sentence

Definition of withdraw

withdrew play \wit͟h-ˈdrü, with-\; withdrawn play \wit͟h-ˈdrȯn, with-\; withdrawing play \wit͟h-ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ, with-\

transitive verb

1 a : to take back or away : remove

pressure upon educational administrators to withdraw academic credit
—J. W. Scott

b : to remove from use or cultivation

c : to remove (money) from a place of deposit

d : to turn away (something, such as one's eyes) from an object of attention

withdrew her gaze

e : to draw (something, such as a curtain) back or aside

2 a : to remove from consideration or set outside a group

withdrew his name from the list of nominees

withdrew their child from the school

b (1) : take back, retract

(2) : to recall or remove (a motion) under parliamentary procedure

intransitive verb

1 a : to move back or away : retire

b : to draw back from a battlefield : retreat

2 a : to remove oneself from participation

b : to become socially or emotionally detached

had withdrawn farther and farther into herself
—Ethel Wilson

3 : to recall a motion under parliamentary procedure

—

withdrawable

play \wit͟h-ˈdrȯ-ə-bəl, with-\ adjective

See withdraw defined for English-language learners

See withdraw defined for kids

Examples of withdraw in a Sentence

She withdrew 0 from her checking account.
The prosecutor withdrew her question to the witness.
They have withdrawn the charges.
withdraw support for a candidate

Recent Examples of withdraw from the Web

Mr Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and levy metals tariffs on Canada and the Europeans has already raised the cost of mistreating allies.

— The Economist, "The rising cost of America First," 14 June 2018
Experts say that Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal in May — despite the fact that Iran was complying with the deal — likely made North Korea far more uneasy about striking a deal with the US.

— zeeshan aleem, Vox, "Team Trump thinks fighting with Trudeau makes them look tough. It doesn’t.," 11 June 2018
The official sanctions against Iran are set to kick in less than six months from the president’s decision on May 8 to withdraw from the agreement.

— NBC News, "Nike cuts ties with Iran's World Cup team, citing U.S. sanctions," 10 June 2018
Trump withdrew from the Paris climate plan a year ago.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Tom Skilling, Bill Foster and others lament 'historic blunder' of U.S. withdrawl from climate accord," 9 June 2018
In a letter sent to Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Patterson also withdrew from his position of chairman of the Evangelism Task Force.

— sarah smith, star-telegram, "Baptist leader Paige Patterson denies he mishandled sexual abuse," 8 June 2018
Marino withdrew from consideration, and lawmakers, mostly Democrats, quickly called for the law to be repealed.

— lev facher, STAT, "As opioids legislation gains steam, efforts to address crisis collide with moneyed interests," 7 June 2018
The decision to withdraw from the game was seen as the biggest victory yet for the boycott, sanctions and divestment (BDS) movement.

— ruth eglash, chicagotribune.com, "Argentine soccer team cancels match in Israel amid death threats against Lionel Messi," 6 June 2018
That’s my take on Google’s decision to withdraw from working with the Pentagon to apply AI technology to its drone program, first reported Friday.

— alan murray, Fortune, "Howard Schultz, Twitter Pop, Manafort Accusation: CEO Daily for June 5, 2018," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'withdraw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of withdraw

Middle English, from with from + drawen to draw

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

withdraw Synonyms

WITHDRAW Defined for English Language Learners

withdraw

verb

Definition of withdraw for English Language Learners

: to remove (money) from a bank account
: to take (something) back so that it is no longer available
: to take back (something that is spoken, offered, etc.)

WITHDRAW Defined for Kids

withdraw

verb with·draw \ wit͟h-ˈdrȯ , with- \

Definition of withdraw for Students

withdrew \-ˈdrü\; withdrawn \-ˈdrȯn\; withdrawing

1 : to draw back : take away

I withdrew money from the bank.

2 : to take back (as something said or suggested) After reconsidering, I withdrew my complaint.

3 : to go away especially for privacy or safety

… warriors had withdrawn to the valley.
—Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat

Medical Dictionary

withdraw

verb with·draw \ wit͟h-ˈdrȯ , with- \

medical Definition of withdraw

withdrew play \-ˈdrü\; withdrawn play \-ˈdrȯn\; withdrawing play \-ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ\

transitive verb

: to discontinue use or administration of

withdraw a drug

intransitive verb

: to become socially or emotionally detached

Law Dictionary

withdraw

verb with·draw

legal Definition of withdraw

withdrew; withdrawn; withdrawing

transitive verb

1 : to remove (money) from a place of deposit or investment

2 : to dismiss (a juror) from a jury

3 a : to eliminate from consideration or set outside a category or group

withdraw his candidacy

b : to cease to proceed with

withdrew the question after an objection was sustained

c : to take back

withdraw a plea

d : to remove (a motion) from consideration under parliamentary procedure

intransitive verb

1 : to remove oneself from participation

withdraw from a case

; specifically : to cease participation in a conspiracy by an affirmative act of renunciation especially involving confession to the authorities or communication of abandonment to co-conspirators

2 : to remove a motion from consideration under parliamentary procedure