What does "withdraw" mean?
An act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing.
Withdraw
/wɪðˈdɹɔː/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing.
- Grammar: withdraw is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: disengage, recede, remove, retreat.
- Useful contrasts: american history textbook approach, beleaguered, constant push.
- Usage evidence: You may as well withdraw from the club right away.
How to use "withdraw"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "withdraw" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "withdraw" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "withdraw" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "withdraw" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "disengage" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing. obsolete
"Indeed one of theſe VVitneſſes vvas over perſvvaded by ſome Perſons, to be out of the vvay, upon G. B.’s Trial; but he came aftervvards, vvith ſorrovv for his vvithdravv, and gave in his Teſtimony: […]"
- 2 Synonym of withdraught (“a dismissal of a lawsuit with prejudice based on a plaintiff's withdrawal of the suit; a retraxit; also, a fine imposed on a plaintiff for such a dismissal”). obsolete
Verb
- 1 To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation. transitive
"VVhy vvithdravveſt thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy boſome."
- 2 remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract wordnet
- 3 To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation.; To remove (someone or (reflexive, archaic) oneself) from a position or situation; specifically (military), to remove (soldiers) from a battle or position where they are stationed. transitive
"Thou neuer vvithdrevvſt thy ſelfe and vvert ſolitarie, but my Spyrite vvas reproouing and diſputing vvith thee."
- 4 keep away from others wordnet
- 5 To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation.; To draw or pull (a bolt, curtain, veil, or other object) aside. archaic, transitive
"[S]he was in no mood for sleep; so, putting her light upon the table and withdrawing the little window curtain, she gazed out pensively at the wild night sky."
Show 25 more definitions
- 6 take back what one has said wordnet
- 7 To take away or take back (something previously given or permitted); to remove, to retract. transitive
"I wyl be his father, and he ſhal be my ſonne. And I wyl not withdrawe my mercy from him, as I haue withdrawen it frõ him that was before the[e]: […]"
- 8 make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity wordnet
- 9 To cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to dry out. transitive
- 10 release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles wordnet
- 11 To take (one's eyes) off something; to look away. transitive
"The lady looked up; her eyes met those of Mr. Watkins Tottle. She withdrew them in a sweet confusion, and Watkins Tottle did the same—the confusion was mutual."
- 12 lose interest wordnet
- 13 To disregard (something) as belonging to a certain group. figuratively, transitive
"One [poem] by Hercules Rollock on the marriage of Anne of Denmark is better, and equal, a few names withdrawn, to any of the contemporaneous poetry of France."
- 14 pull back or move away or backward wordnet
- 15 To remove (a topic) from discussion or inquiry. figuratively, transitive
- 16 remove (a commodity) from (a supply source) wordnet
- 17 To stop (a course of action, proceedings, etc.) figuratively, transitive
"The question was put that "The Endeavour" be hired for the occasion; Mr. Alexander Briggs moved as an amendment, that the word "Fly" be substituted for the word "Endeavour;" but after some debate consented to withdraw his opposition."
- 18 cause to be returned wordnet
- 19 To take back (a comment, something written, etc.); to recant, to retract. figuratively, transitive
"to withdraw false charges"
- 20 withdraw from active participation wordnet
- 21 To distract or divert (someone) from a course of action, a goal, etc. archaic, obsolete, transitive
"I doe not flie, but aduantagious care, / VVith-drevv me from the ods of multitude, […]"
- 22 retire gracefully wordnet
- 23 To extract (money) from a bank account or other financial deposit. transitive
"VVhatever part of his ſtock a man employs as a capital, he alvvays expects is to be replaced to him vvith a profit. […] VVhenever he employs any part of it in maintaining unproductive hands of any kind, that part is, from that moment, vvithdravvn from his capital, and placed in his ſtock reſerved for immediate conſumption."
- 24 break from a meeting or gathering wordnet
- 25 Chiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place. intransitive
"[The] army togither with the kyng of Scottes and the other Lordes there founde, entred Scotland, and did muche hurte in the country of Galloway, deſtroying towns and all that they found abroade, but the people were fled and withdrawen out of theyr way. And when they had taken their pleaſure, the Kyng of Scottes retourned backe to Carleil."
- 26 Chiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place.; Of soldiers: to leave a battle or position where they are stationed; to retreat. intransitive, specifically
"King A horſe, a horſe, my kingdome for a horſe. / [Sir William] Cateſ[by]. VVithdravv my lord, Ile helpe you to a horſe."
- 27 Chiefly followed by from: to stop taking part in some activity; also, to remove oneself from the company of others, from publicity, etc. intransitive
"I vvill vvithdravv from your Company; retire to the Shades, and perform my Penance of a Thouſand Years."
- 28 To stop talking to or interacting with other people and start thinking thoughts not related to what is happening. intransitive
- 29 To stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to undergo withdrawal. intransitive
"Simon had tried to rob a bank while he was withdrawing, but he had been forced to surrender to the police after they had fired several volleys at him."
- 30 Of a man: to remove the penis from a partner's body orifice before ejaculation; to engage in coitus interruptus. intransitive
"Like a fool, I agreed to let him make love to me as long as he withdrew before he ejaculated and he promised he would, but then he didn't."
Antonyms
Example
"You may as well withdraw from the club right away."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "withdraw"?
Common synonyms include: disengage, recede, remove, retreat, abandon, abandoning.
How do you use "withdraw" in a sentence?
You may as well withdraw from the club right away.
How do you pronounce "withdraw"?
Pronounced /wɪðˈdɹɔː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
PIE word *wí From Middle English withdrawen, withdrauen (“to depart, leave, move away; (reflexive) to go away; (reflexive) to leave someone’s service; (often reflexive) to draw back or retreat (from a battlefield or dangerous place), withdraw; to abandon, desert; to go, go forth; to move; of the sea, water, etc.: to (cause to) ebb, recede, subside; to disappear; to slacken, wane; (often reflexive) to cease, stop; to desist, refrain; (reflexive) to go back on, recant; to avoid, eschew; to bring under control, contain, suppress; to curb, curtail; to delay, put off; to demur, refuse; to carry or take away, deprive of, remove; to contract, draw away or in, retract; to deny, refuse; to revoke; to withhold; to divert; to separate; to adopt, borrow, imitate”) [and other forms], from with- (prefix meaning ‘away; back’) + drawen, drauen (“to drag, pull, tow, tug, draw [and other senses]”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to drag, pull; to run”)); see further at with- and draw. The English word is analysable as with- + draw.
Etymology 2
From Middle English withdrawe (“act of stopping a judicial proceeding”), from withdrawen, withdrauen (verb): see etymology 1.