Definition of 'retreat'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense retreats
, present participle retreating
, past tense, past participle retreated
3. verb
Retreat is also a noun.
Downing Street insisted that there would be no retreat from the £26,000 cap on the
amount of benefits that any family could claim. [+ from/into]
4. countable noun
5.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
retreat in British English
verb (mainly intr)
1. military
4. (transitive) chess
to move (a piece) back
noun
5.
the act of retreating or withdrawing
7.
retirement or seclusion
8.
9.
a period of seclusion, esp for religious contemplation
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C14: from Old French retret, from retraire to withdraw, from Latin retrahere to pull back; see retractWord Frequency
retreat in American English
(rɪˈtrit)
noun
1.
3.
a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy
The library was his retreat
5.
a retirement or a period of retirement for religious exercises and meditation
8. See beat a retreat
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 2. departure, withdrawal. 3. shelter. 9. leave, pull back. See depart.ANTONYMS 1, 9, 10. advance.9.
to withdraw, retire, or draw back, esp. for shelter or seclusion
10.
to make a retreat
The army retreated
12.
to draw or lead back
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
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
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
retreat
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
retreat
British English: retreat
VERB /rɪˈtriːt/
If you retreat, you move away from something or someone.
'I've already got a job,' I said quickly, and retreated from the room.
Browse alphabetically
retreat
Related terms of
retreat
Source
Definition of retreat from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
HOUSEHOLD
Drag the correct answer into the box.
clothes horse
highchair
mop
sofa
HOUSEHOLD
Drag the correct answer into the box.
desk
bin
radiator
bookcase
HOUSEHOLD
Drag the correct answer into the box.
dishwasher
bookcase
ironing board
dustpan
Your score:
Latest Word Submissions
Intellectiquette
May 06, 2024
Diaper Donny
May 06, 2024
Printerager
May 05, 2024
malinformation
May 04, 2024
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
iguana
alligator
newt
python
COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
python
toad
cobra
rattlesnake
Your score:
Learning English: Going shopping
Discover some useful English expressions to use while you're out at the shops in this week's Learning English blog.
Read more
Sting-Nettle Day
We're taking a closer look at the intriguing expressions and customs that have grown up around one of the most versatile plants out there - the stinging nettle.
Read more
Learning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more