withdraw
B2Neutral to formal. Common in legal, financial, academic, and military contexts. Less common in casual conversation, where simpler synonyms like 'take back' or 'pull out' are often used.
Definition
Meaning
To remove or take back (something previously given, offered, or placed); to retreat or move away.
To cease participation in an activity or membership in a group; to retract a statement or opinion; in banking, to take money from an account; in psychology, to become introverted or detached.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a reversal of a previous action of giving, entering, or participating. Often carries connotations of deliberate, formal, or strategic removal. The past participle 'withdrawn' can function as an adjective describing a reserved personality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The past tense and past participle form 'withdrew'/'withdrawn' are standard in both. Spelling is identical. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'withdraw from the EU' was a dominant British political phrase).
Connotations
Largely identical. In British legal contexts, 'withdraw' a charge or offer is very standard. In American financial contexts, 'withdraw cash' is extremely frequent.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties due to shared financial, military, and diplomatic jargon.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] withdraw [NP] (e.g., withdraw funds)[NP] withdraw [PP] from [NP] (e.g., withdraw from the race)[NP] withdraw [NP] from [NP] (e.g., withdraw troops from the region)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Withdraw into one's shell”
- “Withdraw from the fray”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To remove money from an account; to cease trading in a market. 'The company decided to withdraw its investment from the volatile sector.'
Academic
To retract a published paper or statement; to cease participation in a study. 'The author was forced to withdraw the flawed article from the journal.'
Everyday
To take cash from a bank machine; to decide not to participate. 'I need to withdraw some cash for the weekend.'
Technical
In military strategy, to pull back forces; in medicine, to experience symptoms after stopping a drug. 'The patient began to experience severe withdrawal symptoms.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to withdraw his candidacy for the committee.
- You can withdraw up to £300 per day from this cashpoint.
- The army was ordered to withdraw to a defensive position.
American English
- She had to withdraw her offer on the house.
- I need to withdraw some cash from the ATM.
- The senator withdrew his controversial remarks.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'in a withdrawn manner'.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. Use 'in a withdrawn way'.
adjective
British English
- His withdrawn manner made him seem unfriendly.
- The withdrawn application cannot be resubmitted this cycle.
American English
- She became very withdrawn after the incident.
- Access to the withdrawn funds is now restricted.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I must withdraw money from the bank.
- The cat withdrew under the bed.
- The company decided to withdraw the faulty product from shops.
- He withdrew from the competition due to injury.
- Under political pressure, the minister was forced to withdraw the proposed legislation.
- Investors began to withdraw their capital as the crisis deepened.
- The prosecution chose to withdraw the charges after new evidence came to light.
- The nation's decision to withdraw from the international treaty sparked diplomatic outrage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bank: you WITHDRAW money you previously put IN. The 'draw' part relates to pulling or taking out.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARTICIPATION/PRESENCE IS A PHYSICAL LOCATION; WITHDRAWING IS MOVING AWAY FROM THAT LOCATION. (e.g., withdraw from a conversation, withdraw from a race).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'withdrawal' (noun) which translates to 'вывод' (removal) or 'абстиненция' (medical). The verb 'withdraw' is 'снять' (money), 'вывести' (troops), 'отозвать' (application/statement), or 'отойти' (retreat).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'withdrawed' (correct: 'withdrew'). Confusing 'withdraw' (verb) with 'withdrawal' (noun) in sentence structure, e.g., 'I made a withdraw' (incorrect; should be 'I made a withdrawal' or 'I withdrew').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'withdraw' MOST likely to be literal?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is incorrect. The correct past tense is 'withdrew', and the past participle is 'withdrawn' (e.g., I withdrew, I have withdrawn).
Both imply moving back. 'Withdraw' is more neutral and formal, often planned (withdraw troops, withdraw money). 'Retreat' often implies moving back due to pressure, danger, or defeat, and is strongly associated with military contexts.
Yes, when it takes a direct object (e.g., withdraw money, withdraw a statement). The preposition 'from' is used when the object is the place or activity being left (e.g., withdraw from a race, withdraw from an account).
It describes a child who is unusually quiet, shy, and tends not to engage socially with others, often seeming introverted or lost in their own thoughts.