Retreat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ri-ˈtrēt/ re·treat

Meaning & Definition of Retreat

Retreat (noun)

  1. an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
  2. the process of receding from a position or state attained
  3. the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position

Retreat (verb)

  1. to make a retreat, withdraw
  2. to slope backward
  3. to draw or lead back, remove; specifically, to move (a piece) back in chess

Retreat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

    "we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered"

    similar: pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal
    related: rout, flinch, recoil, revulsion, shrinking, disengagement, disentanglement
    opposite: advance, advancement

  2. something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger

    "her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents"

    "the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm"

    similar: asylum, bolt-hole (chiefly British), harbor, harborage, haven, refuge, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter
    related: oasis, anchorage, mooring, port, cover, screen, abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, habitation, house, housing, lodging, lodgment, pad, place, quarters, residence, rest, roof, cloister, closet, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, lair, castle, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, redoubt, stronghold, lean-to, lee, shed, windbreak

Retreat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

    "we retreated to the safety of the cellar at the first sign of the tornado"

    similar: back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw, give ground, give way, lose ground
    related: flee, fly, flinch, recoil, shrink, chicken (out), bow out, back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down, detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away, abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate
    opposite: advance
    near: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave

  2. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began"

    similar: bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Related Entry: Retreat (from) (verb)

Retreat (from) is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for retreat (from), not for retreat.

  1. as in withdraw (from), escape

    similar: escape, take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from), discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, sacrifice, abandon, desert, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand, distance, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect
    opposite: reclaim, harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Related Entry: Beat a retreat (phrase)

Beat a retreat is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beat a retreat, not for retreat.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "Seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the troops beat a retreat."

    similar: bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Related Entry: Beaten a retreat (phrase)

Beaten a retreat is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beaten a retreat, not for retreat.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "Seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the troops beat a retreat."

    similar: bolted, broken, bugged out, fled, flown, hightailed (it), retreated, run, run away, run off, skedaddled, beaten it, made tracks, turned tail
    related: absconded, cleared out, decamped, eloped, escaped, got (away), got out, lammed, lit, made off, mizzled (chiefly British), scarpered (British), scatted, scrammed, skipped (out), skirred
    near: bearded, braved, confronted, dared, defied, faced, abided, dwelled, hung around, lingered, remained, stayed, stuck around, tarried

Related Entry: Beats a retreat (phrase)

Beats a retreat is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beats a retreat, not for retreat.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "Seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the troops beat a retreat."

    similar: bolts, breaks, bugs out, flees, flies, hightails (it), retreats, runs, runs away, runs off, skedaddles, beats it, makes tracks, turns tail
    related: absconds, clears out, decamps, elopes, escapes, gets (away), gets out, lams, lights out, makes off, mizzles (chiefly British), scarpers (British), scats, scrams, skips (out), skirrs
    near: beards, braves, confronts, dares, defies, faces, abides, dwells, hangs around, lingers, remains, stays, sticks around, tarries

Related Entry: Beating a retreat (phrase)

Beating a retreat is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beating a retreat, not for retreat.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "Seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the troops beat a retreat."

    similar: bolting, breaking, bugging out, fleeing, flying, hightailing (it), retreating, running, running away, running off, skedaddling, beating it, making tracks, turning tail
    related: absconding, clearing out, decamping, eloping, escaping, getting (away), getting out, lamming, lighting out, making off, mizzling (chiefly British), scarpering (British), scatting, scramming, skipping (out), skirring
    near: bearding, braving, confronting, daring, defying, facing, abiding, dwelling, hanging around, lingering, remaining, staying, sticking around, tarrying

Related Entry: Beat (verb)

Beat is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beat, not for retreat.

  1. to strike repeatedly

    "they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

  2. to achieve a victory over

    "she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"

    similar: best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

  3. to be greater, better, or stronger than

    "this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"

    similar: better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgun, outmatch, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, tower (over), transcend, go one better, run circles around
    related: one-up, outpace, outrace, outrun, overpass, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, outcompete, outperform, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst, outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trump
    near: lose (to)

  4. to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner

    "the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"

    similar: palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb
    related: fluctuate, oscillate, vibrate, quiver, tremble

  5. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"

    similar: flail, flap, flop, flutter, whip
    related: bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump, flick, flicker, flit, fan, oscillate, sway, swing, undulate, wave, palpitate, pulse, throb

  6. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "you beat me to it"

    similar: baffle, balk, checkmate, discomfit, foil, frustrate, thwart
    related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote
    near: abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth

  7. to shape with a hammer

    "the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"

    similar: draw, forge, hammer, pound
    related: chase, planish, fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work, coin, mint, stamp, abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

  8. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"

    similar: blaze, burn, flame, flare, glare
    related: beam, glow, radiate, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

  9. to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically

    "beat the drum in a marching rhythm"

    similar: drum, rap, tap
    related: bang, bash, bat, bonk, bop, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, slam, smack, sock, strike, swat, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, chink, clatter, clink, ping, pat, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, chuck, clap, click, flick, tip

  10. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "it beats me how that slipup happened"

    similar: addle, baffle, bamboozle, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

  11. to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness

    "he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"

    similar: bypass, circumvent, dodge, get around, shortcut, sidestep, skirt
    related: avoid, duck, elude, end-run, escape, eschew, evade, outflank, shake, shirk, shun, disobey, disregard, flout, ignore, avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off)
    opposite: comply (with), follow, keep, obey, observe
    near: accede (to), acquiesce (to), assent (to), accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome, catch, contract, incur

  12. to reduce to fine particles

    "years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"

    similar: atomize, bray, comminute, crush, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, pound, powder, pulverize
    related: grate, kibble, crumble, crunch, break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, micronize

  13. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"

    similar: bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
    related: extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray, bitch, double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk

Related Entry: Beaten (verb)

Beaten is a different word from Retreat. The synonyms below are for beaten, not for retreat.

  1. to strike repeatedly

    "they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"

    similar: bashed, basted, batted, battered, belabored, belted, birched, bludgeoned, buffeted, bunged up, clubbed, curried, done, drubbed, fibbed (British), flogged, hammered, hided, laced, lambasted, lashed, lathered, licked, mauled, messed (up), paddled, pelted, pommeled, pounded, pummeled, punched out, roughed (up), slated, slogged, switched, tanned, thrashed, threshed, thumped, tromped, walloped, whaled, whipped, whopped, whupped, worked over, beaten up on
    related: assailed, assaulted, attacked, beset, boxed, busted, chopped, clobbered, clouted, cracked, cudgeled, cuffed, descended (on or upon), hit, jumped (on), knocked, laid on, lammed, pasted, pounced (on or upon), punched, raided, rushed, slammed, slapped, smacked, smashed, socked, spanked, stormed, swatted, swiped, thwacked, whacked, whammed, whomped, blackjacked, caned, cowhided, flagellated, fustigated, horsewhipped, leathered, pistol-whipped, rawhided, scourged, strapped, gored, lacerated, wounded, maimed, mangled, mutilated

  2. to achieve a victory over

    "she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"

    similar: bested, conquered, defeated, dispatched, done down (British), got, got around, licked, mastered, overborne, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, subdued, surmounted, taken, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, got the better of, knocked for a loop
    related: swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped (British), annihilated, blown away, blown out, bombed, broken, buried, clobbered, creamed, crushed, drubbed, finished, flattened, overwhelmed, routed, shellacked, skinned, slaughtered, smoked (slang), snowed under, thrashed, trounced, upset, walloped, waxed (slang), whipped, capped, excelled, flourished, scored, succeeded, knocked off, knocked over, overpowered, overthrown, subjugated, unseated, vanquished, aced (out), bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, outdistanced, outdone, outfought, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, transcended
    opposite: lost (to)
    near: fallen, given up, gone down, gone under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out

  3. to be greater, better, or stronger than

    "this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"

    similar: bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, excelled, outclassed, outdistanced, outdone, outgunned, outmatched, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, towered (over), transcended, gone one better, run circles around
    related: one-upped, outpaced, outraced, outrun, overpassed, bested, clobbered, conquered, crushed, defeated, drubbed, licked, mastered, outcompeted, outperformed, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), routed, shamed, skunked, subdued, surmounted, thrashed, trimmed, triumphed (over), trounced, walloped, whipped, won (against), worsted, outbalanced, outweighed, overborne, overshadowed, trumped
    near: lost (to)

  4. to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner

    "the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"

    similar: palpitated, pit-a-patted, pitter-pattered, pulsated, pulsed, throbbed
    related: fluctuated, oscillated, vibrated, quivered, trembled

  5. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"

    similar: flailed, flapped, flopped, fluttered, whipped
    related: banged, battered, buffeted, knocked, pounded, smacked, spanked, thumped, flicked, flickered, flitted, fanned, oscillated, swayed, swung, undulated, waved, palpitated, pulsed, throbbed

  6. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "you beat me to it"

    similar: baffled, balked, checkmated, discomfited, foiled, frustrated, thwarted
    related: barred, blocked, clogged, encumbered, fettered, hampered, handicapped, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, inhibited, interfered (with), manacled, obstructed, shackled, tied up, trammeled, arrested, checked, halted, set back, short-circuited, stalled, stopped, averted, forestalled, obviated, precluded, prevented, negated, neutralized, nullified, counteracted, offset, conquered, defeated, overcome
    opposite: advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nurtured, promoted
    near: abetted, aided, assisted, eased, facilitated, smoothed

  7. to shape with a hammer

    "the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"

    similar: drawn, forged, hammered, pounded
    related: chased, planished, fashioned, formed, kneaded, modeled, molded, patted, worked, coined, minted, stamped, abated, boasted, carved, chiseled, cut, graven, hewed, knapped, sculpted, sculptured

  8. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"

    similar: blazed, burned, flamed, flared, glared
    related: beamed, glowed, radiated, flashed, glanced, gleamed, glimmered, glinted, glistened, glistered, glittered, scintillated, shimmered, sparkled, twinkled, bedazzled, blinded, dazed, dazzled

  9. to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically

    "beat the drum in a marching rhythm"

    similar: drummed, rapped, tapped
    related: banged, bashed, batted, bonked, bopped, hammered, hit, knocked, pasted, pounded, slammed, smacked, socked, struck, swatted, thudded, thumped, thwacked, walloped, whacked, chinked, clattered, clinked, pinged, patted, pit-a-patted, pitter-pattered, chucked, clapped, clicked, flicked, tipped

  10. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "it beats me how that slipup happened"

    similar: addled, baffled, bamboozled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, buffaloed, confounded, confused, discombobulated, disoriented, flummoxed, foxed, fuddled, got, graveled, mazed, muddied, muddled, mystified, perplexed, posed, puzzled, vexed, blown one's mind, gone to one's head
    related: stuck, stumped, weirded out, abashed, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed, rattled, agitated, bothered, chagrined, discomforted, discomposed, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, stunned, unhinged, unsettled, upset, beguiled, cozened, deceived, deluded, duped, fooled, gulled, hoaxed, hoodwinked, humbugged, misguided, misled, snowed, strung along, taken in, tricked
    near: assured, reassured, satisfied, enlightened, informed

  11. to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness

    "he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"

    similar: bypassed, circumvented, dodged, got around, shortcut, sidestepped, skirted
    related: avoided, ducked, eluded, end-ran, escaped, eschewed, evaded, outflanked, shaken, shirked, shunned, disobeyed, disregarded, flouted, ignored, averted, deflected, diverted, obviated, parried, prevented, warded (off)
    opposite: complied (with), followed, kept, obeyed, observed
    near: acceded (to), acquiesced (to), assented (to), accepted, courted, embraced, pursued, sought, welcomed, caught, contracted, incurred

  12. to reduce to fine particles

    "years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"

    similar: atomized, brayed, comminuted, crushed, disintegrated, ground, milled, mulled, pounded, powdered, pulverized
    related: grated, kibbled, crumbled, crunched, broken, busted, dashed, fractured, fragmented, shattered, smashed, splintered, micronized

  13. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"

    similar: bilked, bled, cheated, chiseled, choused, conned, cozened, defrauded, diddled, done, done in, euchred, fiddled, fleeced, flimflammed, gaffed, hosed (slang), hustled, mulcted, nobbled (British slang), plucked, reamed, ripped off, rooked, screwed, shaken down, shortchanged, shorted, skinned, skunked, squeezed, stiffed, stuck, stung, suckered, swindled, thimblerigged, victimized, sold a bill of goods to, taken for a ride, taken to the cleaners
    related: extorted, wrenched, wrested, wrung, clipped, gouged, nicked, overcharged, soaked, exploited, milked, deceived, duped, fooled, gulled, tricked, roped (in), betrayed, bitched, double-crossed, bamboozled, fast-talked

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Retreat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Retreat:

Chiefly British: bolt-hole
pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal, asylum, harbor, harborage, haven, refuge, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter, back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw, bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), run, run away, run off, skedaddle, give ground, give way, lose ground, beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Retreat

Words with the opposite meaning of Retreat:

advance, advancement

Related Words for Retreat

rout, flinch, recoil, revulsion, shrinking, disengagement, disentanglement, oasis, anchorage, mooring, port, cover, screen, abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, habitation, house, housing, lodging, lodgment, pad, place, quarters, residence, rest, roof, cloister, closet

Near Antonyms of Retreat

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Word Forms of Retreat

Inflections: retreated, retreating, retreats

Derived words: retreater (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Retreat

Middle English retret, from Anglo-French retrait, from past participle of retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere, from re- + trahere to draw

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Retreat

Words & Phrases Containing Retreat

beat a retreat, duty to retreat, made/beat a hasty retreat, sound/signal the retreat

Frequently Asked Questions about Retreat

What does "Retreat" mean?

"Retreat" means an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Retreat"?

Other words for "Retreat" include pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal, asylum, bolt-hole and harbor. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Retreat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Retreat"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Retreat". Common alternatives include pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal, asylum, bolt-hole, harbor, harborage and haven.

What is the opposite of "Retreat"?

Antonyms of "Retreat" include advance and advancement. Near antonyms include beard, brave, brazen and breast.

How do you use "Retreat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Retreat" in a sentence: "we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered"; "her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents"; "the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm".

Is "Retreat" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Retreat" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Retreat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Retreat" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Retreat"?

"Retreat" is pronounced /ri-ˈtrēt/ and divided into syllables as re·treat.