retreat

Plural: retreats

Noun

• (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
  • "the disorderly retreat of French troops"
• a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
• (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
• (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
• an area where you can be alone
• withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
  • "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
• the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
• The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
• The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
• The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
• The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
• Withdrawal by a military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
• A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
• 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.
• A signal for a military withdrawal.
• A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
• A military ceremony to lower the flag.
• The move of a piece from a threatened position.

Verb

Verb Forms: retreated, retreating, retreats

• To move back or withdraw from a position.
• pull back or move away or backward
• move away, as for privacy
  • "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"
• move back
• make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
• To withdraw from a position, go back.
• To withdraw from a position, go back.
• To withdraw military forces
• To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. (of a glacier)
• To slope back.
• Alternative spelling of re-treat.

Examples

• a Buddhist retreat
• a company retreat
• a mountain retreat
• a retreating forehead
• After seeing his opponent’s powerful rack, he considered a strategic retreat from the hot zone.
• The general opted for a swift retreat because he saw his troops were vastly outnumbered.
• The general refused to order his soldiers to retreat, despite being vastly outnumbered.
• We both need a week retreat after those two stressful years working in the city.

Synonyms

back away, back out, crawfish, crawfish out, draw back, hideaway, move back, pull away, pull back, pull in one's horns, recede, retire, retirement, retrograde, withdraw, back down, balk, beat a retreat, bug out, decline, fall back, pull out, regrade, retreat, revert, shrink, sound a retreat, turn tail

Antonyms

advance, charge, deadlock, draw, engage, fight, forge ahead, gain ground, hold one's ground, lunge, stand off, stand one's ground, storm, tie

Related Words

retract