withdraw

verb

with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ 

with-

withdrew wit͟h-ˈdrü 

with-

; withdrawn wit͟h-ˈdrȯn 

with-

; withdrawing 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had withdrawn farther and farther into herself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

wit͟h-ˈdrȯ-ə-bəl 

with-

adjective

Synonyms

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

Examples of withdraw in a Sentence

She withdrew $200 from her checking account.

The prosecutor withdrew her question to the witness.

They have withdrawn the charges.

withdraw support for a candidate

Recent Examples on the Web

The question now is whether the trickle of voices publicly calling on Biden to withdraw — less than 10% of the House Democratic caucus so far — turns into a deluge, prompting Pelosi, Clyburn and others to escalate their pressure on the president. —Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2024

If Forkner makes that determination, the case must be withdrawn from Gull's court, and the Indiana Supreme Court must appoint a special judge, according to Indiana trial rules Baldwin cited. —Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 12 July 2024

So far, 19 House Democrats and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have urged Biden to withdraw his candidacy, including nearly half a dozen after his NATO press conference on Thursday night. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 12 July 2024

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Jim Himes, came out with a statement calling on Biden to withdraw immediately after his NATO press conference ended. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from with from + drawen to draw

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

withdraw

verb

with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ 

with-

withdrew -ˈdrü  ; withdrawn -ˈdrȯn  ; withdrawing -ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ 

1

: to take back or away : draw away : remove

withdraw money from the bank

2

a

: to call back : recall

withdrew the charge of theft

b

: to take back (one's words) : retract

3

: to go away : retreat

withdrew to the country

Medical Definition

withdraw

verb

with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ  with- 

withdrew -ˈdrü  ; withdrawn -ˈdrȯn  ; withdrawing -ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ 

transitive verb

: to discontinue use or administration of

withdraw a drug

intransitive verb

: to become socially or emotionally detached

Legal Definition

withdraw

verb

with·​draw

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