retreat

/rɪˈtrit/

/rɪˈtrit/

Other forms: retreating; retreats

The noun retreat means a place you can go to be alone, to get away from it all. A spot under a shady tree might be your favorite retreat from the sun, or your bedroom in the basement may serve as a retreat from your siblings.

In the military sense, the noun retreat means the withdrawal of troops. The British retreat after the Battles of Lexington and Concord gave the American colonists an early taste of victory during the American Revolution. As a verb, retreat means to back out of something — like a lawyer who is forced to retreat from his argument when the opposing evidence is too convincing.

Definitions of retreat

1. noun

   the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
   antonyms:

   advance

   the act of moving forward (as toward a goal)

   type of:

   withdrawal

   the act of withdrawing
2. noun

   (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
   “the disorderly retreat of French troops”

   types:

   disengagement, fallback, pullout

   to break off a military action with an enemy

   type of:

   withdrawal

   the act of withdrawing
3. verb

   move back
   synonyms: retrograde

   type of:

   draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw

   pull back or move away or backward
4. verb

   pull back or move away or backward
   synonyms: draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw

   back away, back out, crawfish, crawfish out, pull back, pull in one's horns, withdraw

   make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity

   types:

   fall back

   move back and away from

   retrograde

   move back

   back down, back off, back up

   move backwards from a certain position

   ebb, ebb away, ebb down, ebb off, ebb out

   flow back or recede

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
5. verb

   make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
   synonyms: back away, back out, crawfish, crawfish out, pull back, pull in one's horns, withdraw

   draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, withdraw

   pull back or move away or backward
6. noun

   a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
   examples:

   Camp David

   a retreat to the northwest of Washington that is used by the president of the United States

   types:

   ashram

   (India) a place of religious retreat for Hindus

   ashram

   a place of religious retreat modeled after the Indian ashram

   nook

   a sheltered and secluded place

   nest

   a cosy or secluded retreat

   pleasance

   a pleasant and secluded part of a garden; usually attached to a mansion

   sanctum, sanctum sanctorum

   a place of inviolable privacy

   type of:

   area, country

   a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
7. noun

   an area where you can be alone
   synonyms: hideaway

   type of:

   area

   a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function
8. noun

   withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
   “the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity”

   synonyms: retirement

   type of:

   withdrawal

   the act of withdrawing
9. verb

   move away, as for privacy
   “The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer”

   types:

   cocoon

   retreat as if into a cocoon, as from an unfriendly environment

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
10. noun

    (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
    type of:

    sign, signal, signaling

    any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
11. noun

    (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
    type of:

    bugle call

    a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle