Search results
- DictionaryRe·treat/rəˈtrēt/
verb
- 1. (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat: "the French retreated in disarray" Similar withdrawretiredraw backpull backpull outfall backgive waygive groundrecoilfleetake flightbeat a retreatbeat a hasty retreatrun awayrun offmake a run for itrun for itmake offtake offtake to one's heelsmake a break for itboltmake a quick exitclear outmake one's getawayescapehead for the hillsinformal:beat itvamooseskedaddlesplitcut and runshow a clean pair of heelsturn tailscramhook itfly the coopskip offdo a fadedo a runnerscarperdo a bunkleg itlight outbug outcut outpeel outtake a powderskiddoogo throughshoot througharchaic:flylevantOpposite advancedig in
- ▪ move back or withdraw: "it becomes so hot that the lizards retreat into the shade" Similar go outebbrecedeflow outfallgo downOpposite come in
- ▪ withdraw to a quiet or secluded place: "after the funeral he retreated to the shore"
- ▪ change one's decisions, plans, or attitude, as a result of criticism from others: "his proposals were clearly unreasonable and he was soon forced to retreat" Similar change one's decisionchange one's mindchange one's attitudechange one's plansback downclimb downdo a U-turnbacktrackbackpedalrow backretractreconsidereat one's wordseat humble piegive inconcede defeatshift one's grounddo an about-turn
- ▪ (of shares of stock) decline in value: "shares retreated 32 points to 653 points"
- ▪ move (a piece) back from a forward or threatened position on the board.
noun
- 1. an act of moving back or withdrawing: "a speedy retreat" Similar withdrawalpulling backflightrare:katabasisOpposite advance
- ▪ an act of changing one's decisions, plans, or attitude, especially as a result of criticism from others: "the unions made a retreat from their earlier position" Similar climbdownbackdownretractionconcessionabout-faceU-turnrowbackabout-turn
- ▪ a decline in the value of shares of stock.
- 2. a signal for a military force to withdraw: "the bugle sounded a retreat"
- ▪ a military musical ceremony carried out at sunset, originating in the playing of drums and bugles to tell soldiers to return to camp for the night.
- 3. a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax: "their mountain retreat in New Hampshire" Similar refugehavenresortasylumsanctuarysanctum sanctorumhideawayhideouthiding placecottagedachasheltercabindenlairnestinformal:hidey-hole
- ▪ a period of seclusion for the purposes of prayer and meditation: "the bishop is away on his annual retreat" Similar seclusionwithdrawalretirementsolitudeisolationhidingprivacysanctuaryrare:sequestrationreclusion
Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French retret (noun), retraiter (verb), from Latin retrahere ‘pull back’ (see retract).
Scrabble Points: 7
R
1E
1T
1R
1E
1A
1T
1
Powered by Oxford Languages
Searches related to define retreat
define retreat meeting define retreat house define retreat meaning define retreat trip define retreat synonym define retreat noun