Withdraw — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /wit͟h-ˈdrȯ/ with·draw

Meaning & Definition of Withdraw

Withdraw (verb)

  1. to take back or away, remove
  2. to remove from use or cultivation
  3. to remove (money) from a place of deposit

Withdraw (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "the army was forced to withdraw from the line of battle"

    similar: back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, retreat, 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 solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)

    "withdrew the offer of surrender upon hearing the terms"

    similar: abjure, abnegate, forswear, recant, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay
    related: contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute, back down, back off, backtrack, disallow, recall, revoke
    opposite: adhere (to)
    near: acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow, back, confirm, defend, endorse, espouse, support, uphold, accept, adopt, embrace

  3. to take away from a place or position

    "withdrew her hand from the table"

    similar: clear, draw, remove, take out
    related: demount, dislodge, abstract, cut, draw off, draw out, extract, pull, budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, move, shift, transfer, transpose
    opposite: place, position, put
    near: mount, anchor, clamp, fix, hitch, moor, secure, set, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root, set up, site, situate, stick

Related Entry: Withdraw (from) (verb)

Withdraw (from) is a different word from Withdraw. The synonyms below are for withdraw (from), not for withdraw.

  1. as in escape, take off (from)

    similar: escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Withdraw

The most common words with a similar meaning to Withdraw:

back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, retreat, abjure, abnegate, forswear, recant, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, clear, draw, remove, take out, give ground, give way, lose ground

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Withdraw

Words with the opposite meaning of Withdraw:

advance, adhere (to), place, position, put

Related Words for Withdraw

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, contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative

Near Antonyms of Withdraw

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow, back, confirm, defend, endorse, espouse, support, uphold

Word Forms of Withdraw

Inflections: withdrew, withdrawn, withdrawing

Derived words: withdrawable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Withdraw

Middle English, from with from + drawen to draw

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Withdraw

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Frequently Asked Questions about Withdraw

What does "Withdraw" mean?

"Withdraw" means to take back or away, remove. As a verb, it is defined as: to take back or away, remove. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Withdraw"?

Other words for "Withdraw" include back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, retreat and abjure. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Withdraw" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Withdraw"?

There are 87 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Withdraw". Common alternatives include back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, retreat, abjure, abnegate and forswear.

What is the opposite of "Withdraw"?

Antonyms of "Withdraw" include advance, adhere (to), place, position and put. Near antonyms include beard, brave, brazen and breast.

How do you use "Withdraw" in a sentence?

Examples of "Withdraw" in a sentence: "the army was forced to withdraw from the line of battle"; "withdrew the offer of surrender upon hearing the terms"; "withdrew her hand from the table".

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

"Withdraw" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Withdraw"?

"Withdraw" is pronounced /wit͟h-ˈdrȯ/ and divided into syllables as with·draw.

What is the origin of the word "Withdraw"?

"Withdraw" comes from Middle English, from with from + drawen to draw. First known use: 13th centuryt.