retreat
English · Thesaurus
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retreat¹
- /ɹɪˈtɹiːt/
- /ɹəˈtɹiːt/
- /ɹiˈtɹiːt/
Rhymes with -iːt
Where it comes from
From Middle English retret, from Old French retrait or retret, from Latin retractus, from retraho. Doublet of retract, retrait, and ritratto.
noun retreats
- The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. In a retreat he outruns any lackey.
- The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
- Withdrawal by a military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. The general opted for a swift retreat because he saw his troops were vastly outnumbered.
- A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security. a mountain retreat
- A peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory.
- A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude, especially for meditation, prayer, or study. We both need a week retreat after those two stressful years working in the city.
- A signal for a military withdrawal.
- A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. to-morrow the Royal Standard will be hoisted at Edinburgh Castle from reveille to retreat.
- A military ceremony to lower the flag.
- The move of a piece from a threatened position.
verb retreats · retreating · retreated
- To withdraw from a position, go back.
- To withdraw military forces. The general refused to order his soldiers to retreat, despite being vastly outnumbered.
- To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. (of a glacier)
- To slope back. a retreating forehead
Similar: back away, back down, balk, beat a retreat, bug out, crawfish, decline, fall back, draw back, pull out, recede, regrade, retire, retreat, retrograde, revert, roll back, shrink, sound a retreat, turn tail, withdraw · Opposite: advance, charge, gain ground, forge ahead, lunge, storm, engage, fight, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, deadlock, draw, stand off, tie
retreat²
- /ɹiːˈtɹiːt/
Rhymes with -iːt
verb retreats · retreating · retreated
- Alternative form of re-treat
Similar: back away, back down, balk, beat a retreat, bug out, crawfish, decline, fall back, draw back, pull out, recede, regrade, retire, retreat, retrograde, revert, roll back, shrink, sound a retreat, turn tail, withdraw · Opposite: advance, charge, gain ground, forge ahead, lunge, storm, engage, fight, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, deadlock, draw, stand off, tie
Retreat³
proper noun
- A locality in the Tamworth council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.
- A locality in George Town council area and the City of Launceston, northern Tasmania, Australia.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: withdraw, recede, draw back, retire, retirement, pull away, back out, retrograde, back away, move back, pull back, hideaway, crawfish, crawfish out, pullback, withdrawing
verb
Similar: back away, back down, balk, beat a retreat, bug out, crawfish, decline, fall back, draw back, pull out, recede, regrade, retire, retreat, retrograde, revert, roll back, shrink, sound a retreat, turn tail, withdraw · Opposite: advance, charge, gain ground, forge ahead, lunge, storm, engage, fight, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, deadlock, draw, stand off, tie
verb
Similar: back away, back down, balk, beat a retreat, bug out, crawfish, decline, fall back, draw back, pull out, recede, regrade, retire, retreat, retrograde, revert, roll back, shrink, sound a retreat, turn tail, withdraw · Opposite: advance, charge, gain ground, forge ahead, lunge, storm, engage, fight, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, deadlock, draw, stand off, tie
Translations
Every language
noun act of pulling back or withdrawing
| Español | retirada, repliegue |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 후퇴 hutoe, 퇴각 toegak, 철수 cheolsu |
| 日本語 | 後退 kōtai, 退却 taikyaku, 撤退 tettai |
| 中文 | 後退 /后退 hòutuì, 退卻 /退却 tuìquè, 撤退 chètuì |
| Português | retirada |
| Français | retraite |
| Deutsch | Rückzug |
| Italiano | ritirata, arretramento, ripiegamento |
| Ελληνικά | υποχώρηση ypochórisi |
| Română | retragere |
| Русский | отступле́ние otstuplénije, вы́вод vývod |
| العربية | تَرَاجُع tarājuʕ, اِنْسِحَاب insiḥāb |
noun peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security
| Español | retiro |
|---|---|
| Português | retiro |
| Français | retraite |
| Italiano | ritiro, eremo |
| Русский | убе́жище ubéžišče |
noun period of meditation, prayer, or study
| Español | retiro |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 靜修 /静修 jìngxiū |
| Português | retiro |
| Français | retraite |
| Italiano | ritiro |
| Русский | уедине́ние ujedinénije |
verb to withdraw military forces
| Español | retirarse, replegarse |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 후퇴하다 hutoehada |
| 日本語 | 退却する taikyaku suru, 後退する kōtai suru |
| 中文 | 後退 /后退 hòutuì, 退卻 /退却 tuìquè |
| Português | retirar, retirar-se |
| Français | se retirer, se replier, battre en retraite |
| Deutsch | sich zurückziehen, abziehen |
| Italiano | ritirarsi, ripiegare, battere in ritirata, indietreggiare, retrocedere, arretrare |
| Ελληνικά | αποτραβιέμαι apotraviémai |
| Română | retrage |
| Русский | отступа́ть otstupátʹ, отступи́ть otstupítʹ, ретирова́ться retirovátʹsja |
| العربية | تَرَاجَعَ tarājaʕa |
Talk about this word "retreat." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/retreat. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. retreat. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/retreat "retreat." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/retreat.Cite this
@misc{retreat_2026,
title = {retreat},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/retreat},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
