retreat

ri-TREET/ɹɪˈtɹiːt/

15 meanings of retreat

1
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of an army pulling back from danger or enemy attack.
Like stepping back from a fire when it gets too hot to stand near.
The general ordered a retreat when the enemy broke through their lines.
Their retreat saved many soldiers from being captured.
Similarwithdrawal, pullback, evacuation
Oppositeadvance
Note
2
nouncountable
A quiet time away from normal life, used for prayer, thinking, or rest.
Like taking a long, calm break far from everything busy.
She went on a weekend retreat to relax and think.
The church holds a yearly retreat for quiet prayer.
Note
3
verbintransitive
To move back from a place, away from danger or trouble.
Like backing away slowly when you see something scary.
When the dog barked, the children retreated up the stairs.
We had to retreat as the floodwater rose around us.
Similarwithdraw, retire
Oppositeadvance
4
nouncountable
A calm, quiet place where you can feel safe and private.
Like a quiet corner where no one can bother you.
Their cabin in the woods is a perfect retreat from city noise.
She turned the attic into a cozy retreat for reading.
Similarhaven, refuge, sanctuary, hideaway
Note
5
nouncountable
The act of turning around and moving back from a forward spot.
Like the sea pulling back from the shore at low tide.
The wave's retreat exposed a stretch of wet rocks.
His sudden retreat from the doorway told us he had changed his mind.
Similarwithdrawal, recession
Oppositeadvance
6
nouncountable
The act of pulling back or moving away from something dangerous or unpleasant.
Like stepping away from a hot stove before you get burned.
Their retreat from the argument calmed everyone down.
His quick retreat from the angry crowd was wise.
Similarwithdrawal, pullback
Oppositeadvance
Note
7
verbintransitive
When soldiers pull back and move away from a battle or enemy.
Like a team leaving the field when there is no way left to win.
The troops retreated when they ran out of ammunition.
Soldiers will retreat if the position becomes impossible to hold.
Similarwithdraw, retire
Oppositeadvance, attack
Note
8
nouncountable
A signal that tells soldiers to pull back from a fight.
The bugler sounded the retreat, and the soldiers fell back.
When they heard the retreat, the men turned and pulled away.
Note
9
nouncountable
A military event where soldiers lower the flag at the end of the day.
Like a short closing ceremony at the end of each day.
Families gathered on the base to watch the evening retreat.
Every Friday the soldiers hold a retreat to lower the flag.
10
nouncountable
A bugle call or drumbeat played as the flag is lowered at sunset on a base.
Like a tune that signals the day is ending.
The retreat echoed across the base as the sun went down.
He recognized the retreat from the bugle's first notes.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of retreat apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–14

It came through Old French and Middle English from Latin, based on a word meaning to pull back.

Meaning 15

This form was made by adding "re-" to the word "treat."