withdrawal

noun

with·​draw·​al wit͟h-ˈdrȯ(-ə)l 

with-

1

a

: the act of taking back or away something that has been granted or possessed

b

: removal from a place of deposit or investment

c(1)

: the discontinuance of administration or use of a drug

(2)

: the syndrome of often painful physical and psychological symptoms that follows discontinuance of an addicting drug

a heroin addict going through withdrawal

2

a

: retreat or retirement especially into a more secluded or less exposed place or position

b

: an operation by which a military force disengages from the enemy

c(1)

: social or emotional detachment

(2)

: a pathological retreat from objective reality (as in some schizophrenic states)

3

: retraction, revocation

threatened us with withdrawal of consent

4

a

: the act of drawing someone or something back from or out of a place or position

b

: coitus interruptus

Synonyms

• pullback
• pullout
• recession
• retirement
• retreat

Examples of withdrawal in a Sentence

The general authorized the withdrawal of troops from the fields.

She made a withdrawal from her checking account.

He underwent rehab to help him through his withdrawal from heroin.

She experienced symptoms of nicotine withdrawal after she quit smoking.

Recent Examples on the Web

The war lasted more than three months, with Israeli troops reaching as far as the outskirts of Beirut, leading to the exodus of thousands of PLO members, including Arafat. September 1982 Despite the withdrawal of the PLO from Lebanon, Israeli troops continued to monitor activities in Lebanon. —Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023

Negotiators had called for a five-day pause, though Israel had pushed back against the length of the pause and emphasized that the fighting would continue after the window, with no withdrawal of troops. —Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

In its confidential quarterly report circulated to member states, the United Nations nuclear agency also said Tehran has largely refused to cooperate on several outstanding disputes, including the country’s withdrawal of permission for several European inspectors to continue working there. —Laurence Norman, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023

Early withdrawal penalties go into effect when one withdraws cash from a CD before its term is over. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2023

Since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005 and Hamas’s evolution from a purely guerrilla organization into the governing power of Gaza in 2007, Hamas had only periodic skirmishes with the Israeli military. —Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023

In August of that year, as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan loomed, Burns also traveled to Kabul to meet with the Taliban's then-de facto leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar. —Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023

While the researchers note this could indicate the withdrawal of an addiction, the overall reduction of SNS usage was significant enough to suggest otherwise. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 8 Nov. 2023

Like many savings accounts, you’re limited to six withdrawals per month. —Martha C. White, wsj.com, 8 Nov. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

withdrawal

noun

with·​draw·​al wit͟h-ˈdrȯ(-ə)l 

with-

1

: an act or instance of withdrawing

especially : a removal of money from a bank account

2

a

: the stopping of the use or giving of a drug and especially a habit-forming drug

b

: the group of often painful physical and emotional symptoms that occur when use of a habit-forming drug is stopped

Medical Definition

withdrawal

noun

with·​draw·​al -ˈdrȯ(ə-)l 

1

a

: a pathological retreat from objective reality (as in some schizophrenic states)

b

: social or emotional detachment

2

a

: the discontinuance of administration or use of a drug

b

: the syndrome of often painful physical and psychological symptoms that follows discontinuance of an addicting substance

a heroin addict going through withdrawal

3

: coitus interruptus

Legal Definition

withdrawal

noun

with·​draw·​al

1

: the act or fact of withdrawing

withdrawal from a conspiracy

2

: removal of money from a place of deposit or investment