Meaning & Definition of Retreat in English
English⟶
Retreat
/ritrit/
noun
1. (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"
synonym:
- retreat
2. A place of privacy
- A place affording peace and quiet
synonym:
- retreat
3. (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
synonym:
- retreat
4. (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
synonym:
- retreat
5. An area where you can be alone
synonym:
- hideaway,
- retreat
6. Withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
- "The religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
synonym:
- retirement,
- retreat
7. The act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
synonym:
- retreat
verb
1. Pull back or move away or backward
- "The enemy withdrew"
- "The limo pulled away from the curb"
synonym:
- withdraw,
- retreat,
- pull away,
- draw back,
- recede,
- pull back,
- retire,
- move back
2. Move away, as for privacy
- "The pope retreats to castelgondolfo every summer"
synonym:
- retreat
3. Move back
- "The glacier retrogrades"
synonym:
- retrograde,
- retreat
4. Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
- "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"
- "He backed out of his earlier promise"
- "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"
synonym:
- retreat,
- pull back,
- back out,
- back away,
- crawfish,
- crawfish out,
- pull in one's horns,
- withdraw
Examples of using
They had no alternative but to retreat.