- 1[intransitive] to move away from a place or an enemy because you are in danger or because you have been defeated The army was forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. We retreated back down the mountain. They retreated to a safe distance from the fighting. opposite advance Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbhastily, quickly, rapidly, … verb + retreattry to, order somebody to prepositionbefore, behind, down, … See full entry move away/back
- 2[intransitive] to move away or back synonym recede He watched her retreating figure. The flood waters slowly retreated. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbhastily, quickly, rapidly, … verb + retreattry to, order somebody to prepositionbefore, behind, down, … See full entry change decision
- 3[intransitive] + adv./prep. to change your mind about something because of criticism or because a situation has become too difficult synonym back off (from something) The government had retreated from its pledge to reduce class sizes. He told them not to retreat in the face of opposition from the public. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbhastily, quickly, rapidly, … verb + retreattry to, order somebody to prepositionbefore, behind, down, … See full entry to quiet place
- 4[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to escape to a place that is quieter or safer synonym retire Bored with the conversation, she retreated to her bedroom. (figurative) He retreated into a world of fantasy. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbhastily, quickly, rapidly, … verb + retreattry to, order somebody to prepositionbefore, behind, down, … See full entry finance
- 5[intransitive] + noun to lose value Share prices retreated 45p to 538p. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French retret (noun), retraiter (verb), from Latin retrahere ‘pull back’, from re- ‘back’ + trahere ‘drag’.Extra examples He retreated behind the table. He retreated hastily back to his car. He retreated in the face of strong opposition. He retreated into his own world. I heard her footsteps retreat down the hall. Sandy retreated slowly, wary of what the man might do. She retreated from the busy office to her own room. The army has been ordered to retreat. They retreated before the Americans. She told them not to retreat in the face of opposition from the public.
retreat
verbBrE BrE//rɪˈtriːt//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they retreat BrE BrE//rɪˈtriːt//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːt//
he / she / it retreats BrE BrE//rɪˈtriːts//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːts//
past simple retreated BrE BrE//rɪˈtriːtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːtɪd//
past participle retreated BrE BrE//rɪˈtriːtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːtɪd//
-ing form retreating BrE BrE//rɪˈtriːtɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈtriːtɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: retreat
