Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense retreats, present participle retreating, past tense, past participle retreated
1. verb
If you retreat, you move away from something or someone.
'I've already got a job,' I said quickly, and retreated from the room. [VERB preposition]
The young nurse pulled a face at the Matron's retreating figure. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
2. verb
When an army retreats, it moves away from enemy forces in order to avoid fighting them.
The French, suddenly outnumbered, were forced to retreat. [VERB]
Retreating soldiers were dousing homes and shops with petrol and setting them onfire. [VERB-ing]
Retreat is also a noun.
In June 1942, the British 8th Army was in full retreat.
3. verb
If you retreatfrom something such as a plan or a way of life, you give it up, usually in order to do something safer or less extreme.
To save yourself, you sometimes need to retreat from the world. [V + from/into]
From bouncing confidence she had retreated into self-pity. [Vfrom/into n]
Retreat is also a noun.
Downing Street insisted that there would be no retreat from the £26,000 cap on theamount of benefits that any family could claim. [+ from/into]
It's a retreat into the adolescence they never really had.
4. countable noun
A retreat is a quiet, isolated place that you go to in order to rest or to do things in private.
He spent yesterday hidden away in his country retreat.
Synonyms: refuge, haven, resort, retirement More Synonyms of retreat
5.
See to beat a retreat
More Synonyms of retreat
retreat in British English
(rɪˈtriːt)
verb(mainly intr)
1. military
to withdraw or retire in the face of or from action with an enemy, either due to defeat or in order to adopt a more favourable position
2.
to retire or withdraw, as to seclusion or shelter
3.
(of a person's features) to slope back; recede
4. (transitive) chess
to move (a piece) back
noun
5.
the act of retreating or withdrawing
6. military
a.
a withdrawal or retirement in the face of the enemy
b.
a bugle call signifying withdrawal or retirement, esp (formerly) to within a defended fortification
7.
retirement or seclusion
8.
a place, such as a sanatorium or monastery, to which one may retire for refuge, quiet, etc
9.
a period of seclusion, esp for religious contemplation
10.
an institution, esp a private one, for the care and treatment of people who are mentally ill, infirm, elderly, etc
Word origin
C14: from Old French retret, from retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere to pull back; see retract
retreat in American English
(rɪˈtrit)
noun
1.
the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action
2.
the act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion
3.
a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy
The library was his retreat
4.
an institution that provides care for people with mental illnesses
5.
a retirement or a period of retirement for religious exercises and meditation
6. Military
a.
a flag-lowering ceremony held at sunset on a military post
b.
the bugle call or drumbeat played at this ceremony
7.
the recession of a surface, as a wall or panel, from another surface beside it
8. See beat a retreat
intransitive verb
9.
to withdraw, retire, or draw back, esp. for shelter or seclusion
10.
to make a retreat
The army retreated
11.
to slope backward; recede
a retreating chin
12.
to draw or lead back
Derived forms
retreatal
adjective
retreater
noun
retreative
adjective
Word origin
[1300–50; (n.) ME retret ‹ OF, var. of retrait, n. use of ptp. of retraire to draw back ‹ L retrahere (re-re- + trahere to draw; see retract1); (v.) late ME retreten ‹ MF retraitier ‹ L retractāre to retract2]
Examples of 'retreat' in a sentence
retreat
Officers beat a hasty retreat and the violence quickly spread.
The Sun (2016)
Wellness retreats are also big here.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was his country retreat as in those days Highbury was surrounded by fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's the perfect country retreat, which oozes sophistication.
The Sun (2017)
Unsurprisingly, the couple have used the home for entertaining on a lavish scale, not just as a quiet family retreat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Less shocking but equally affecting was her quiet retreat after his death, returning home to London and a kitchen of dead flowers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When your enemy retreats on to his safest ground you should not yourself become prickly or defensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Since the war there has been a slow retreat from life below ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We also offer marriage retreats and seminars for couples.
Christianity Today (2000)
The cruises are very sociable and are not recommended for anyone seeking a quiet retreat.
The Sun (2009)
They like to stay in the best places and retreat from the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Treat yourself to some creature comforts at one of these four gorgeous country retreats.
The Sun (2015)
The first wave of the enemy began to retreat.
Malcolm Balen A Model Victory (2005)
Bespoke retreats are also available throughout the year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are a necessary place of retreat from the controlling centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It sounds like he struggles with intimacy and retreats back to his electronic world where he feels safer.
The Sun (2014)
Your local church or religious centre may also have details of retreats which may be available to you.
Ingham, Christine Life Without Work (1994)
They were faced with retreating into savagery or finding somewhere where knowledge and technical skills could be preserved.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Four out of ten say they use the wooden buildings as a retreat from family life or a base for hobbies.
The Sun (2012)
The perfect retreat from modern life.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Beat the retreat, take the issue out of the headlines.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
No queues or canteen chaos - good news for those seeking a quiet lunchtime retreat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One friend also did a midlife downsize following a retreat back to London.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
While the upper classes enjoyed parties and country retreats, workers were boiling with resentment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
With 400 acres to explore, it is the perfect retreat away from hectic city life.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
retreat
British English: retreat VERB
If you retreat, you move away from something or someone.
'I've already got a job,' I said quickly, and retreated from the room.
American English: retreat
Brazilian Portuguese: retirar-se
Chinese: 退出
European Spanish: retirarse
French: battre en retraite
German: sich zurückziehen
Italian: ritirarsi
Japanese: 立ち去る
Korean: 물러나다
European Portuguese: retirar-se
Latin American Spanish: retirarse
Chinese translation of 'retreat'
retreat
(rɪˈtriːt)
n
(c) (= place) 隐(隱)居处(處) (yǐnjūchù)
(c/u) (= act) 退避 (tuìbì)
(c/u) (Mil) 撤退 (chètuì)
vi
(from danger, enemy) 退避 (tuìbì)
(from promise etc) 放弃(棄) (fàngqì)
(Mil) 撤退 (chètuì)
to beat a hasty retreat迅速逃离(離) (xùnsù táolí)
1 (verb)
Definition
to withdraw or retire in the face of or from action with an enemy
They were forced to retreat.
Synonyms
withdraw
Troops withdrew from the country last March.
retire
He was wounded, but did not retire from the field.
back off
They backed off in horror.
draw back
I drew back with a horrified scream.
leave
go back
shrink
depart
In the morning Mr McDonald departed for Sydney.
fall back
The congregation fell back from them as they entered.
recede
As she receded into the distance he waved goodbye.
pull back
They were asked to pull back from their positions around the city.
back away
The girls hastily backed away.
recoil
People used to recoil from the idea of getting into debt.
give ground
turn tail
I turned tail and fled in the direction of the house.
Opposites
advance
,
engage
,
move forward
2 (verb)
Definition
to alter one's opinion about something
The Government had to retreat on defence cuts.
Synonyms
climb down
He has climbed down on pledges to reduce capital gains tax.
change your decision
backtrack
The finance minister backtracked on the decision.
do a U-turn
reconsider
change your mind
flip-flop (informal, mainly US)
concede defeat
back-pedal
He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.
eat your words
3 (verb)
The tide retreats up to 500 yards on big springs.
Synonyms
ebb
We hopped from rock to rock as the tide ebbed from the causeway.
recede
The illness began to recede.
flow out
go down
Crime has gone down 70 per cent.
fall
Her weight fell as she excerised more and ate healthily.
1 (noun)
Definition
a withdrawal or retirement in the face of the enemy
The army was in full retreat.
Synonyms
flight
his secret flight into exile
retirement
retirement in the countryside
departure
This would inevitably involve his departure from the post.
withdrawal
the withdrawal of troops from Eastern Europe
evacuation
an evacuation of the city's four million inhabitants
Opposites
charge
,
advance
, entrance
2 (noun)
Definition
the act of altering one's opinion about something
There will be no retreat from his position.
Synonyms
climbdown
about-turn (British)
retraction
backdown
concession
3 (noun)
Definition
a place to which one may retire, esp. for religious contemplation
He spent yesterday in his country retreat.
Synonyms
refuge
We climbed up a winding track towards a mountain refuge.
haven
a real haven at the end of a busy working day
resort
a genteel resort on the south coast
retirement
shelter
a shelter for homeless women
haunt
a favourite summer haunt for yachtsmen
asylum
They applied for asylum after fleeing their home country.
privacy
You can try them on in the privacy of your own home.
den
The walls of his den were covered in posters.
sanctuary
Some of them have sought sanctuary in the church.
hideaway
The bandits fled to a remote mountain hideaway.
seclusion
They love the seclusion of their garden.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of asylum
Definition
refuge granted to a political refugee from a foreign country
They applied for asylum after fleeing their home country.
Synonyms
refuge,
security,
haven,
safety,
protection,
preserve,
shelter,
retreat,
harbour,
sanctuary
in the sense of back away
The girls hastily backed away.
Synonyms
move back,
go back,
retire,
withdraw,
shrink,
recede,
pull back,
back off,
recoil,
draw back,
give ground,
turn tail
in the sense of back off
Definition
to retreat
They backed off in horror.
Synonyms
recoil,
go back,
retire,
withdraw,
shrink back,
move back,
recede,
pull back,
back away,
draw back,
turn tail
Synonyms of 'retreat'
retreat
Explore 'retreat' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of back-pedal
Definition
to retract or modify a previous opinion or statement
He appeared to back-pedal on that statement.
Synonyms
backtrack,
go back,
reverse,
reconsider,
climb down,
have second thoughts,
change your mind,
flip-flop (informal, US),
do a U-turn
in the sense of backtrack
Definition
to retract or reverse one's opinion or policy
The finance minister backtracked on the decision.
Synonyms
retract,
withdraw,
retreat,
draw back,
recant,
back-pedal,
eat your words
in the sense of den
Definition
a small secluded room in a home, often used for a hobby
The walls of his den were covered in posters.
Synonyms
study,
retreat,
sanctuary,
hideaway,
cloister,
snug,
sanctum,
cubbyhole,
snuggery
in the sense of depart
Definition
to leave
In the morning Mr McDonald departed for Sydney.
Synonyms
leave,
go,
withdraw,
retire,
disappear,
quit,
retreat,
exit,
go away,
vanish,
absent (yourself),
start out,
migrate,
set forth,
take (your) leave,
decamp,
hook it (slang),
slope off,
pack your bags (informal),
make tracks,
bog off (British, slang),
rack off (Australian, New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of departure
This would inevitably involve his departure from the post.
Synonyms
retirement,
going,
withdrawal,
resignation,
retreat,
exit,
going away,
removal
in the sense of draw back
Definition
to move backwards
I drew back with a horrified scream.
Synonyms
recoil,
withdraw,
retreat,
shrink,
falter,
back off,
shy away,
flinch,
retract,
quail,
start back
in the sense of evacuation
an evacuation of the city's four million inhabitants
Synonyms
removal,
departure,
withdrawal,
clearance,
flight,
expulsion,
exodus
in the sense of fall
Definition
to become less or lower in number or quality
Her weight fell as she excerised more and ate healthily.
Synonyms
decrease,
drop,
decline,
go down,
flag,
slump,
diminish,
fall off,
dwindle,
lessen,
subside,
ebb,
abate,
depreciate,
become lower
in the sense of fall back
Definition
to retreat
The congregation fell back from them as they entered.
Synonyms
retreat,
retire,
withdraw,
move back,
recede,
pull back,
back off,
recoil,
draw back
in the sense of go down
Crime has gone down 70 per cent.
Synonyms
fall,
drop,
decline,
slump,
decrease,
fall off,
dwindle,
lessen,
ebb,
depreciate,
become lower
Additional synonyms
in the sense of haunt
Definition
a place visited frequently
a favourite summer haunt for yachtsmen
Synonyms
meeting place,
resort,
hangout (informal),
den,
rendezvous,
stamping ground,
gathering place
in the sense of haven
Definition
a place of safety
a real haven at the end of a busy working day
Synonyms
sanctuary,
shelter,
retreat,
asylum,
refuge,
oasis,
sanctum
in the sense of hideaway
Definition
a hiding place or secluded spot
The bandits fled to a remote mountain hideaway.
Synonyms
hiding place,
haven,
retreat,
refuge,
sanctuary,
hide-out,
nest,
sequestered nook
in the sense of privacy
Definition
the condition of being private
You can try them on in the privacy of your own home.
Synonyms
seclusion,
isolation,
solitude,
retirement,
retreat,
separateness,
sequestration,
privateness
in the sense of pull back
They were asked to pull back from their positions around the city.
Synonyms
withdraw,
pull out,
retreat,
retire,
flee,
give way,
fall back,
back off,
draw back,
disengage,
take flight,
turn tail,
beat a retreat
in the sense of recede
Definition
to withdraw from a point or limit
As she receded into the distance he waved goodbye.
Synonyms
fall back,
withdraw,
retreat,
draw back,
return,
go back,
retire,
back off,
regress,
retrogress,
retrocede
in the sense of recede
Definition
to become more distant
The illness began to recede.
Synonyms
lessen,
decline,
subside,
abate,
sink,
fade,
shrink,
diminish,
dwindle,
wane,
ebb
in the sense of recoil
Definition
to draw back in fear or horror
People used to recoil from the idea of getting into debt.
Synonyms
draw back,
shrink,
falter,
shy away,
flinch,
quail,
balk at
in the sense of resort
Definition
a place to which many people go for holidays
a genteel resort on the south coast
Synonyms
holiday centre,
spot,
retreat,
haunt,
refuge,
tourist centre,
watering place (British)
in the sense of retire
Definition
to pull back (troops) from battle or (of troops) to fall back
He was wounded, but did not retire from the field.
Synonyms
retreat,
withdraw,
pull out,
give way,
recede,
pull back,
back off,
decamp,
give ground
Additional synonyms
in the sense of retirement
retirement in the countryside
Synonyms
withdrawal,
retreat,
privacy,
loneliness,
obscurity,
solitude,
seclusion
in the sense of sanctuary
Definition
refuge or safety
Some of them have sought sanctuary in the church.
Synonyms
protection,
shelter,
refuge,
haven,
retreat,
asylum
in the sense of seclusion
Definition
the state of being secluded
They love the seclusion of their garden.
Synonyms
privacy,
isolation,
solitude,
hiding,
retirement,
shelter,
retreat,
remoteness,
ivory tower,
concealment,
purdah
in the sense of shelter
Definition
something that provides cover or protection from weather or danger
a shelter for homeless women
Synonyms
refuge,
haven,
sanctuary,
retreat,
asylum,
safe haven,
safe house
in the sense of turn tail
Definition
to run away
I turned tail and fled in the direction of the house.