withdrew
B2Neutral to formal; common in written and spoken language.
Definition
Meaning
Past tense of withdraw; moved or took something back, away, or out.
Can refer to retreating, removing oneself, ceasing participation, or retracting a statement. Often implies a deliberate or strategic action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a past, completed action. Carries a stronger, more decisive nuance than 'pulled back' or 'moved away'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling is identical. Slight preference in business contexts: US may use 'withdrew (funds)', UK 'took out (money)'.
Connotations
Equally formal in both dialects. In military/political contexts, can imply defeat (US) or tactical repositioning (UK nuance).
Frequency
Comparably frequent. Slightly higher in UK legal/financial registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + withdrew + (object) + (from + NP)Subject + withdrew + (object)Subject + withdrew + (adverbial)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He withdrew into his shell”
- “The company withdrew its horns”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The bank withdrew the loan offer due to insufficient collateral.
Academic
The researcher withdrew the initial hypothesis after contradictory data emerged.
Everyday
She withdrew £50 from the cash machine.
Technical
The state party withdrew its reservation to the treaty article.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The battalion withdrew under cover of darkness.
- He withdrew his candidacy for the committee.
American English
- The candidate withdrew from the primary race.
- She withdrew her savings to buy a car.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He withdrew money from the bank.
- The cat withdrew its paw from the water.
- The company withdrew the faulty product from shops.
- She felt nervous and withdrew from the conversation.
- Citing personal reasons, the athlete withdrew from the championship.
- The government withdrew its ambassador after the diplomatic incident.
- The author withdrew her libel claim following an out-of-court settlement.
- Investors withdrew capital en masse, triggering a liquidity crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Went WITH and then DREW back.' It's the past action of drawing something back *with* you.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARTICIPATION/PRESENCE IS A LIQUID IN A CONTAINER (e.g., 'withdrew from the conversation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'выводил' (was leading out) – implies an agent's own past action. Careful with 'снял' (took off) – only for money/objects. Avoid 'отозвал' for people – use for statements/offers.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He withdrawed from the course.' Correct: 'He withdrew from the course.' Overuse in informal contexts where 'pulled out' or 'backed out' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'withdrew' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's neutral. It's fine for everyday use (e.g., withdrawing money), though synonyms like 'pulled out' can be more informal.
Both imply moving back. 'Withdrew' is broader (money, statements, participation). 'Retreated' is mainly physical/military and often implies pressure or defeat.
Yes. E.g., 'She withdrew from the project' (no direct object) or 'She withdrew her support' (has an object).
Because most English verbs form the past tense with '-ed'. 'Withdraw' is irregular (withdraw/withdrew/withdrawn), similar to 'draw/drew/drawn'.