retreatverb
uk/rɪˈtriːt/us/rɪˈtriːt/retreat verb (POSITION)
C2 [ I often + adv/prep ] to go away from a place or person in order to escape from fighting or danger:
C2 [ I ] to go to a quiet safe place in order to avoid a difficult situation:
More examples
- Fire fighters had to retreat from the fierce heat.
- On seeing us, the deer stood stock-still for a moment, then turned and retreated into the forest.
- The army was forced to retreat.
- I saw her coming and retreated.
- They retreated to the relative safety of the forest.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Responding to an attack
- beat
- beat sb off
- beat sb/sth back
- capitulate
- counterattack
- fend sb off
- fight
- fight back
- fight fire with fire idiom
- parry
- pull (sb/sth) out
- repel
- repulse
- resist
- resistance
- resistance
- see sb off
- stand up to sb/sth
- strike
- withdrawal
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
retreat verb (DECISION)
[ I often + adv/prep ] to decide not to do something, or to stop believing something, because it causes too many problems:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Changing your mind
- 180
- about-turn
- back away
- back out
- backpedal
- change of heart idiom
- change your tune idiom
- climbdown
- cold
- come round
- move
- oscillate
- pendulum
- pull
- pull (sb/sth) out
- realign
- seesaw
- time-server
- U-turn
- volte-face
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retreat verb (PRICE)
[ I ] If a price retreats, it goes down after it has gone up:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making smaller or less
- a nip (here) and a tuck (there) idiom
- attenuate
- axe
- bite
- bite into sth
- dive
- drain
- let sth down
- let up
- lower
- make a hole in sth idiom
- miniaturization
- minimize
- shrink
- slash
- strip sth away
- stripped down
- subside
- tail off
- take a tumble idiom
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retreatnoun
uk/rɪˈtriːt/us/rɪˈtriːt/retreat noun (POSITION)
C2 [ C usually singular, U ] a move back by soldiers or an army, either because they have been defeated or in order to avoid fighting:
C2 [ C ] a private and safe place:
[ C or U ] a period of time used to pray and study quietly, or to think carefully, away from normal activities and duties:
More examples
- We saw the rain and made a hasty retreat into the bar.
- The battle ended in an ignominious retreat from the front line.
- The luxury resort is used as a retreat by the rich and famous.
- The book discusses 10 famous military retreats.
- Thousands of soldiers died during the retreat.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Responding to an attack
- beat
- beat sb off
- beat sb/sth back
- capitulate
- counterattack
- fend sb off
- fight
- fight back
- fight fire with fire idiom
- parry
- pull (sb/sth) out
- repel
- repulse
- resist
- resistance
- resistance
- see sb off
- stand up to sb/sth
- strike
- withdrawal
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
retreat noun (DECISION)
[ C ] a change from previous beliefs or behaviour:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Changing your mind
- 180
- about-turn
- back away
- back out
- backpedal
- change of heart idiom
- change your tune idiom
- climbdown
- cold
- come round
- move
- oscillate
- pendulum
- pull
- pull (sb/sth) out
- realign
- seesaw
- time-server
- U-turn
- volte-face
See more results »
retreat noun (PRICE)
[ S or U ] a situation in which the price of something goes down:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making smaller or less
- a nip (here) and a tuck (there) idiom
- attenuate
- axe
- bite
- bite into sth
- dive
- drain
- let sth down
- let up
- lower
- make a hole in sth idiom
- miniaturization
- minimize
- shrink
- slash
- strip sth away
- stripped down
- subside
- tail off
- take a tumble idiom
See more results »