Definition of withdrawal
1a : the act of taking back or away something that has been granted or possessedb : removal from a place of deposit or investmentc (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
2a : retreat or retirement especially into a more secluded or less exposed place or positionb : an operation by which a military force disengages from the enemyc (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
4a : the act of drawing someone or something back from or out of a place or positionb : coitus interruptus
Read the Latest from M-W
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 of withdrawal from the Web
-
Since the drug didn’t last as long as promised, some patients suffered withdrawal, which led them to become addicted.
-
In announcing his withdrawal from the international pact to fight global warming, Trump touted mines opening in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and said the Paris accord would’ve been a near extinction-level event for such operations.
-
Mayors of cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and Salt Lake City have signed on — along with Pittsburgh, which Mr. Trump mentioned in his speech announcing the withdrawal — as have Hewlett-Packard, Mars and dozens of other companies.
-
Moran’s fellow Republican and Kansas senator, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, on the other hand, signed a letter last week urging the country’s withdrawal from the agreement.
-
Trump promoted his announcement Wednesday night on Twitter, after a day in which U.S. allies around the world sounded alarms about the likely consequences of a U.S. withdrawal.
-
President Donald Trump welcomed Vietnam’s prime minister to the White House Wednesday for talks focusing on the American trade deficit, while the Southeast Asian country is still shaken by Trump’s withdrawal from a regional commerce pact.
-
Some legal scholars have said Trump’s real opportunity to hamper collective action on climate change isn’t the Paris accord, but withdrawal from the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
-
As another point of comparison, banks in Zimbabwe rarely allow cash withdrawals for more than $50 a day due to the country's crippling cash shortage.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'withdrawal'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of withdrawal
1749
Other Psychology Terms
WITHDRAWAL Defined for English Language Learners
withdrawal
playDefinition of withdrawal for English Language Learners
-
: an act of moving something away or taking something away
-
: an act of ending your involvement in something
-
: the act of taking money out of a bank account
WITHDRAWAL Defined for Kids
withdrawal
playDefinition of withdrawal for Students
: an act or instance of withdrawing
Medical Dictionary
withdrawal
playMedical Definition of withdrawal
1a: a pathological retreat from objective reality (as in some schizophrenic states)b: social or emotional detachment
2a: the discontinuance of administration or use of a drugb: the syndrome of often painful physical and psychological symptoms that follows discontinuance of an addicting substance a heroin addict going through withdrawal
Law Dictionary
withdrawal
Legal Definition of withdrawal
1 : the act or fact of withdrawing withdrawal from a conspiracy
2 : removal of money from a place of deposit or investment
Learn More about withdrawal
-
See words that rhyme with withdrawal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for withdrawal Spanish Central: Translation of withdrawal Nglish: Translation of withdrawal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of withdrawal for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about withdrawal
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up withdrawal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!