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withdraw

Overview

This page has 23 definitions of withdraw in English. Withdraw is a verb and noun. Examples of how to use withdraw in a sentence are shown. Also define these 99 related words and terms: draw, pull, away, back, original, position, situation, remove, military, soldier, battle, station, bolt, curtain, veil, object, aside, take away, take back, give, permit, retract, cause, help, take, addictive, drug, substance, dry out, eye, look, disregard, belong, group, topic, discussion, inquiry, stop, course of action, proceeding, comment, write, recant, unsay, distract, divert, goal, odds, banking, finance, extract, money, bank account, financial, deposit, from, leave, place, presence, go, room, retreat, take part, activity, company, publicity, talk, interact, person, start, thought, related, happen, undergo, withdrawal, man, penis, partner, body, orifice, ejaculation, engage, coitus interruptus, act, draw back, removing, removal, withdrawing, law, withdraught, dismissal, lawsuit, with prejudice, based, plaintiff, suit, retraxit, fine, and impose.

English

WOTD – 27 August 2022

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

PIE word
*wi

From Middle English withdrawen, withdrauen (“to depart, leave, move away; (reflexive) to go away; (reflexive) to leave someone’s service; (often reflexive) to draw back or retreat (from a battlefield or dangerous place), withdraw; to abandon, desert; to go, go forth; to move; of the sea, water, etc.: to (cause to) ebb, recede, subside; to disappear; to slacken, wane; (often reflexive) to cease, stop; to desist, refrain; (reflexive) to go back on, recant; to avoid, eschew; to bring under control, contain, suppress; to curb, curtail; to delay, put off; to demur, refuse; to carry or take away, deprive of, remove; to contract, draw away or in, retract; to deny, refuse; to revoke; to withhold; to divert; to separate; to adopt, borrow, imitate”) [and other forms],[1] from with- (prefix meaning ‘away; back’)[2] + drawen, drauen (“to drag, pull, tow, tug, draw [and other senses]”)[3] (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to drag, pull; to run”)); see further at with- and draw. The English word is analysable as with- +‎ draw.[4]

Verb

withdraw (third-person singular simple present withdraws, present participle withdrawing, simple past withdrew, past participle withdrawn)

  1. (transitive)
    1. To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation.
      1. To remove (someone or (reflexive, archaic) oneself) from a position or situation; specifically (military), to remove (soldiers) from a battle or position where they are stationed.
        • 1593, Tho[mas] Nashe, Christs Teares Over Ierusalem. […], London: […] Iames Roberts, and are to be solde by Andrewe Wise, […], OCLC 846581854, folio 24, recto:
          Thou neuer vvithdrevvſt thy ſelfe and vvert ſolitarie, but my Spyrite vvas reproouing and diſputing vvith thee.
        • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, OCLC 213833262, [Act V, scene iii]:
          VVithdravve your ſelues, and leaue vs here alone.
        • 1610, William Camden, “Brechnock-shire”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, OCLC 1166778000, page 627:
          [A]s the Saxons vvere novv ſpoiling and harrying the vvhole Iland, and Vortigern had vvithdravven himſelfe into theſe parts, Paſcentius his ſonne ruled all as Lord, by the permiſſion of Aurelius Ambroſe, as Ninnius vvriteth, […]
        • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], OCLC 228725984; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928, OCLC 5190338, page 118:
          [H]e is gone as I ſaid, let him go; the loſs is no mans but his ovvn, he has ſaved us the trouble of going from him; for he continuing, as I ſuppoſe he vvill do, as he is, he vvould have been but a blot in our Company: beſides, the Apoſtle ſays, From ſuch vvithdravv thy ſelf.
        • 1718 April 17 (Gregorian calendar)​, Francis Atterbury, “Some Reasons Assigned, for Our Saviour’s Appearing Chiefly to His Apostles, after His Resurrection; and His Manner of Conversing with Them, Represented: In a Sermon Preached at Westminster-Abbey, on Easter-Day, 1718”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Sermons on Several Occasions. […], volume I, London: […] George James […]; and sold by C. Davis, […], published 1734, OCLC 953567982, page 177:
          They [the apostles] vvere by Degrees to be VVeaned from their Fondneſs for his [Jesus's] Perſon, and their Deſire of his Bodily Preſence; and to this end it vvas requiſite, that he ſhould not vvithdravv himſelf from their Sight, at once, but appear, and diſappear to them, at fit Intervals; diſcontinuing, and reſuming his Converſation vvith them, in ſuch a manner, as might beſt diſpoſe them to be vvilling entirely to part vvith him.
        • 1821, Percy B[ysshe] Shelley, Adonais: An Elegy on the Death of John Keats, […], Pisa, Italy: […] Didot; reprinted London: Noel Douglas […], 1927, OCLC 1156441409, stanza XLII, page 21:
          He is a presence to be felt and known / In darkness and in light, from herb and stone, / Spreading itself where'er that Power may move / Which has withdrawn his being to its own; […]
        • 1823, [Walter Scott], “The Boar-hunt”, in Quentin Durward. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., OCLC 892089432, page 237:
          It had so happened that a sounder (i.e. in the language of the period, a boar of only two years old,) had crossed the track of the proper object of the chase, and withdrawn in pursuit of him all the dogs, (saving two or three couple of old staunch hounds,) and the greater part of the huntsmen.
        • 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Returns to the Genteel World”, in Vanity Fair. A Novel without a Hero, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, OCLC 3174108, page 540:
          Walter Scape was withdrawn from Eton, and put into a merchant's house.
      2. (archaic) To draw or pull (a bolt, curtain, veil, or other object) aside.
    2. To take away or take back (something previously given or permitted); to remove, to retract.
      • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg: Eucharius Cervicornus and J. Soter?], OCLC 79441532, I. Boke of the Cronicles xviij, folio lxxxvi, verso, column 1:
        I wyl be his father, and he ſhal be my ſonne. And I wyl not withdrawe my mercy from him, as I haue withdrawen it frõ him that was before the[e]: […]
        1 Chronicles 17:13 in modern versions of the Bible.
      • 1580, Michael Cope [i.e., Michel Cop], “The Eleuenth Chapter”, in M[arcelline] O[utred], transl., A Godly and Learned Exposition uppon the Prouerbes of Solomon: […], London: […] Thomas Dawson, […], for George Bishop, OCLC 1040999799, folio 191, verso:
        Hee that vvithdravveth the corne, the people vvill curſe him: but bleſſing ſhall bee on the head of him that ſelleth corne.
        A quotation from Proverbs 11:26 in the Bible.
      • 1597, Richard Hooker, “Of the Personall Presence of Christ Euery Where, and in What Sense It may be Graunted He is Euery Where Present According to the Flesh”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, OCLC 931154958, book V, page 300:
        Impoſſible it is that God ſhould vvithdravve his preſence from any thing, becauſe the very ſubſtance of God is infinite.
      • 1815 September 10 – December 14, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Alastor; or, The Spirit of Solitude”, in Alastor; or, The Spirit of Solitude: And Other Poems, London: […] Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, […]; and Carpenter and Son, […] [b]y S. Hamilton, […], published 1816, OCLC 1935175, page 2:
        [F]orgive / This boast, beloved brethren, and withdraw / No portion of your wonted favour now!
      • 1833–1834 (date written)​, Alfred Tennyson, “The Two Voices”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, OCLC 1008064829, page 126:
        To pass, when Life her light withdraws, / Not void of righteous self-applause, / Nor in a merely selfish cause— […]
      • 2019 October, Rhodri Clark, “TfW seeks PRM derogation for Class 37 sets”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allen Publishing, ISSN 0026-8356, OCLC 884584817, page 87:
        The plan is to withdraw the Pacers from service by the end of the year.
    3. To cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to dry out. [from 20th c.]
    4. To take (one's eyes) off something; to look away.
    5. (figuratively)
      1. To disregard (something) as belonging to a certain group.
      2. To remove (a topic) from discussion or inquiry.
      3. To stop (a course of action, proceedings, etc.)
      4. To take back (a comment, something written, etc.); to recant, to retract.
        Synonyms: unsay; see also Thesaurus:recant
        to withdraw false charges
        • 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “The Pickwickians”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, OCLC 28228280, page 4:
          Mr. Blotton would only say then, that he repelled the hon. gen's false and scurrilous accusation, with profound contempt. (Great cheering.) The hon. gent. was a humbug. […] The Chairman was quite sure the hon. Pickwickian would withdraw the expression he had just made use of. / Mr. Blotton, with all possible respect for the chair, was quite sure he would not.
    6. (archaic or obsolete) To distract or divert (someone) from a course of action, a goal, etc.
    7. (banking, finance) To extract (money) from a bank account or other financial deposit.
      • 1776 March 9, Adam Smith, “Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of Productive and Unproductive Labour”, in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], OCLC 762139, book II (Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock), page 403:
        VVhatever part of his ſtock a man employs as a capital, he alvvays expects is to be replaced to him vvith a profit. […] VVhenever he employs any part of it in maintaining unproductive hands of any kind, that part is, from that moment, vvithdravvn from his capital, and placed in his ſtock reſerved for immediate conſumption.
    • Pull definition
      To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. (1 of 24 pull definitions)
    • Original definition
      Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others. (1 of 6 original definitions)
    • Station definition
      A stopping place.
      1. A regular stopping place for ground transportation. (1 of 25 station definitions)
    • Bolt definition
      A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw. (1 of 15 bolt definitions)
    • Aside definition
      To or on one side so as to be out of the way.
    • Give definition
      To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.
      1. To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone). (1 of 27 give definitions)
    • Course Of Action definition
      A plan; a set of intended actions, through which one intends to achieve a goal.
    • Write definition
      To form letters, words or symbols on a surface in order to communicate. (1 of 11 write definitions)
    • Recant definition
      To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
  2. (intransitive)
    1. Chiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place.
      1. (specifically, military) Of soldiers: to leave a battle or position where they are stationed; to retreat.
    2. Chiefly followed by from: to stop taking part in some activity; also, to remove oneself from the company of others, from publicity, etc.
    3. To stop talking to or interacting with other people and start thinking thoughts not related to what is happening.
    4. To stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to undergo withdrawal. [from 20th c.]
      • 1992, Edward St Aubyn, chapter 5, in Bad News, London: Picador, published 2012, →ISBN, page 88:
        Simon had tried to rob a bank while he was withdrawing, but he had been forced to surrender to the police after they had fired several volleys at him.
    5. Of a man: to remove the penis from a partner's body orifice before ejaculation; to engage in coitus interruptus.
      • 2002, Debbie Macomber, “1968 [chapter name]”, in Between Friends, Don Mills, Ont.: Mira Books, →ISBN, page 119:
        Like a fool, I agreed to let him make love to me as long as he withdrew before he ejaculated and he promised he would, but then he didn't.
    • Leave definition
      To have a consequence or remnant.
      1. To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely. (1 of 15 leave definitions)
    • Company definition
      A team; a group of people who work together professionally.
      1. A group of individuals who work together for a common purpose. (1 of 11 company definitions)
    • Partner definition
      One of each halves of a pair of someone or something that belongs together. (1 of 8 partner definitions)
Conjugation
Conjugation of withdraw
infinitive (to) withdraw
present tense past tense
1st-person singular withdraw withdrew
2nd-person singular withdraw, withdrawest† withdrew, withdrewst†
3rd-person singular withdraws, withdraweth† withdrew
plural withdraw
subjunctive withdraw withdrew
imperative withdraw —
participles withdrawing withdrawn

†Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms
 
Translations
to take away or take back (something previously given or permitted) — See also translations at remove,‎ retract
to cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance — See also translations at dry out
to take back (a comment, something written, etc.) — see recant,‎ retract
of soldiers: to leave a battle or position where they are stationed — See also translations at retreat
of a man: to remove the penis from a partner’s body orifice before ejaculation
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Dictionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Etymology 2

From Middle English withdrawe (“act of stopping a judicial proceeding”), from withdrawen, withdrauen (verb):[5] see etymology 1.[6]

Noun

withdraw (plural withdraws) (obsolete)

  1. An act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing.
  2. (law) Synonym of withdraught (“a dismissal of a lawsuit with prejudice based on a plaintiff's withdrawal of the suit; a retraxit; also, a fine imposed on a plaintiff for such a dismissal”)
    • Lawsuit definition
      In civil law, a case where two or more people disagree and one or more of the parties take the case to a court for resolution.
    • With Prejudice definition
      Without the possibility of future action that reverses the decision. (1 of 2 with prejudice definitions)
    • Based definition
      Founded on; having a basis; often used in combining forms.
    • Fine definition
      Senses referring to subjective quality.
      1. Of superior quality. (1 of 17 fine definitions)

References

  1. ^ “withdrauen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “with-, pref.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  3. ^ “drauen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  4. ^ “withdraw, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2022; “withdraw, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  5. ^ “withdrawe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  6. ^ “withdraw, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2022.

Further reading

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