Definition of withdrawal
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
