retract
verb
re·tract ri-ˈtrakt 
retracted; retracting; retracts
transitive verb
1
: to draw back or in
cats retract their claws
2
a
: take back, withdraw
retract a confession
b
: disavow
intransitive verb
1
: to draw or pull back
2
: to recant or disavow something
retractable
ri-ˈtrak-tə-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- abjure
- abnegate
- forswear
- foreswear
- recant
- renege
- renounce
- repeal
- repudiate
- take back
- unsay
- withdraw
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A cat can retract its claws. The pilot retracted the plane's landing gear. The plane's landing gear failed to retract. Their college grants were retracted. They retracted the job offer.
Recent Examples on the Web Blinken apparently made no new commitments or promises and did not retract the July 4 statement that so upset the Abu Akleh family. 
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 July 2022 Trump’s anger reportedly prompted his team’s efforts to lobby Fox head honcho Rupert Murdoch to retract the call. Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post, 13 June 2022 Even if McKay and HBO were willing to retract their portrayal of West, his depiction of his time with the Lakers isn't entirely accurate either. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 20 Apr. 2022 In early March, Netrebko pulled out of upcoming performances with the New York Metropolitan Opera after she was asked to retract her support for Putin. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2022 With stocky feet, small eyes, a broad head, and 28 highly curved claws that are impossible to retract, the bear strikes without notice and eats his victim completely. A. Craig Copetas, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2022 The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011 to 2020. The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2022 The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011 to 2020. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 In a cease and desist letter, the County Attorney's Office told Maricopa County Board of Supervisors candidate Gail Golec to immediately retract social media posts. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 July 2022 Trump’s anger reportedly prompted his team’s efforts to lobby Fox head honcho Rupert Murdoch to retract the call. Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post, 13 June 2022 Even if McKay and HBO were willing to retract their portrayal of West, his depiction of his time with the Lakers isn't entirely accurate either. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 20 Apr. 2022 In early March, Netrebko pulled out of upcoming performances with the New York Metropolitan Opera after she was asked to retract her support for Putin. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2022 With stocky feet, small eyes, a broad head, and 28 highly curved claws that are impossible to retract, the bear strikes without notice and eats his victim completely. A. Craig Copetas, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2022 The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011 to 2020. The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2022 The letter instructed the Trump Organization to essentially retract the documents, known as statements of financial condition, from 2011 to 2020. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 In a cease and desist letter, the County Attorney's Office told Maricopa County Board of Supervisors candidate Gail Golec to immediately retract social media posts. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere — more at retreat
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
retract
verb
re·tract ri-ˈtrakt
retracted; retracting
1
: to pull back or in
A cat can retract its claws.
2
: to take back (as an offer or statement) : withdraw
Medical Definition
retract
transitive verb
re·tract ri-ˈtrakt
: to draw back or in
retract the lower jaw
compare protract intransitive verb
: to draw something (as tissue) back or in
also : to use a retractor
retracts
verb
as in withdraws
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) the newspaper was forced to retract the story, which turned out to be based on fabricated reporting Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- withdraws
- renounces
- denies
- contradicts
- refutes
- recants
- abandons
- relinquishes
- repeals
- reneges
- repudiates
- abjures
- forswears
- takes back
- disavows
- disowns
- spurns
- recalls
- unsays
- disclaims
- foreswears
- negates
- abnegates
- revokes
- disproves
- forsakes
- backtracks
- rebuts
- controverts
- surrenders
- gainsays
- disputes
- disallows
- bolts
- backs off
- backs down
- negatives
- disagrees (with)
- gives up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- admits
- asserts
- maintains
- declares
- claims
- contends
- acknowledges
- affirms
- proclaims
- supports
- confirms
- maintains
- defends
- states
- adheres (to)
- accepts
- professes
- endorses
- adopts
- backs
- embraces
- avows
- vouches
- vows
- upholds
- indorses
- espouses