withdraw

present singular third person withdraws · participle present withdrawing · past withdrew · participle past withdrawn · first person past singular withdrew · archaic present second person singular withdrawest · past second person singular withdrew · archaic past second person singular withdrewst · present singular third person withdraws · archaic present singular third person withdraweth · past singular third person withdrew · past plural withdrew · past subjunctive withdrew · participle present withdrawing · participle past withdrawn

1. transitiveTo draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation.

   VVhy vvithdravveſt thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy boſome.

   1653, David Dickson, “Psal[m] LXXIV. Maschil of Asaph.”, in A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalmes, from Ps. 50. to Ps. 100, London: […] T[homas] R[atcliffe] & E[dward] M[ottershed] for Ralph Smith, […], →OCLC, page 169

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   Hovv counterfeit a coin they are vvho friends / Bear in their Superſcription (of the moſt / I vvould be underſtood) in proſperous days / They ſvvarm, but in adverſe vvithdravv their head / Not to be found, though ſought.

   1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 19, lines 190–194

   ["]She was as proud as t' other in her way," said the old woman, touching the face of her daughter fearfully, and withdrawing her hand, "for all she's so quiet now; but she'll shame 'em with her good looks, yet. Ha, ha! She'll shame 'em, will my handsome daughter!"

   1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “After a Lapse”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 587

   Envy not! for thou wilt wear / In the dark a shroud as fair; / Golden with the sunny ray / Thou withdrawest from my day; […]

   1865, Jean Ingelow, “A Dead Year”, in Poems, author’s edition, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 106

   1. transitiveTo 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.

      VVithdravve your ſelues, and leaue vs here alone.

      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, [Act V, scene iii]

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      Thou neuer vvithdrevvſt thy ſelfe and vvert ſolitarie, but my Spyrite vvas reproouing and diſputing vvith thee.

      1593, Tho[mas] Nashe, Christs Teares Over Ierusalem. […], London: […] Iames Roberts, and are to be solde by Andrewe Wise, […], →OCLC, folio 24, recto

      [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, […]

      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, page 627

      [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.

      1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 118

      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.

      1718 April 16 (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, page 177

      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; […]

      1821, Percy B[ysshe] Shelley, Adonais: An Elegy on the Death of John Keats, […], Pisa, Italy: […] Didot; reprinted London: Noel Douglas […], 1927, →OCLC, stanza XLII, page 21

   2. archaictransitiveTo draw or pull (a bolt, curtain, veil, or other object) aside.

      [S]he was in no mood for sleep; so, putting her light upon the table and withdrawing the little window curtain, she gazed out pensively at the wild night sky.

      1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 9.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 284

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      Scrooge glanced towards the Phantom. Its steady hand was pointed to the head. The cover was so carelessly adjusted that the slightest raising of it, the motion of a finger upon Scrooge's part, would have disclosed the face. He thought of it, felt how easy it would be to do, and longed to do it; but had no more power to withdraw the veil than to dismiss the spectre at his side.

      1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 137

      Here's the veil withdrawn from landscape: up to Jura and beyond, / All awaits us ranged and ready; yet she violates the bond, / Neither leans nor looks nor listens: why is this?

      1877 September 14, Robert Browning, “La Saisiaz”, in La Saisiaz: The Two Poets of Croisic, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], published 1878, →OCLC, page 18

2. transitiveTo take away or take back (something previously given or permitted); to remove, to retract.

   The plan is to withdraw the Pacers from service by the end of the year.

   2019 October, Rhodri Clark, “TfW seeks PRM derogation for Class 37 sets”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allen Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 87

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   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]: […]

   1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, I. Cronicles xviij, folio lxxxvi, verso, column 1

   Hee that vvithdravveth the corne, the people vvill curſe him: but bleſſing ſhall bee on the head of him that ſelleth corne.

   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, folio 191, verso

   Impoſſible it is that God ſhould vvithdravve his preſence from any thing, becauſe the very ſubſtance of God is infinite.

   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, book V, page 300

   [F]orgive / This boast, beloved brethren, and withdraw / No portion of your wonted favour now!

   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[amuel] Hamilton, […], published 1816, →OCLC, page 2

   To pass, when Life her light withdraws, / Not void of righteous self-applause, / Nor in a merely selfish cause— […]

   1833–1834 (date written), Alfred Tennyson, “The Two Voices”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 126

3. transitiveTo cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to dry out.First known use 20th c.
4. transitiveTo take (one's eyes) off something; to look away.

   The lady looked up; her eyes met those of Mr. Watkins Tottle. She withdrew them in a sweet confusion, and Watkins Tottle did the same—the confusion was mutual.

   1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Passage in the Life of Mr. Watkins Tottle. Chapter 1.”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, page 16

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   With this agreeable speech Monks turned short upon the matron, and bent his fierce gaze upon her, till even she, who was not easily cowed, was fain to withdraw her eyes, and turn them towards the ground.

   1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Containing an Account of What Passed Between Mr. and Mrs. Bumble and Monks, at Their Nocturnal Interview”, in Oliver Twist; […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 6

5. figurativelytransitiveTo disregard (something) as belonging to a certain group.

   One [poem] by Hercules Rollock on the marriage of Anne of Denmark is better, and equal, a few names withdrawn, to any of the contemporaneous poetry of France.

   1837–1839, Henry Hallam, “History of Poetry from 1550 to 1600”, in Introduction to the Literature of Europe, in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, volume II, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, section V (On Latin Poetry), paragraph 97, page 341

6. figurativelytransitiveTo remove (a topic) from discussion or inquiry.
7. figurativelytransitiveTo stop (a course of action, proceedings, etc.)

   The question was put that "The Endeavour" be hired for the occasion; Mr. Alexander Briggs moved as an amendment, that the word "Fly" be substituted for the word "Endeavour;" but after some debate consented to withdraw his opposition.

   1834 October, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “The Steam Excursion”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […], published 1836, →OCLC, page 285

8. figurativelytransitiveTo take back (a comment, something written, etc.); to recant, to retract.

   to withdraw false charges

   1 more example

   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.

   1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “The Pickwickians”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC, page 4

   Synonyms: unsay, abjure, backpedal, disavow, disown, eat one's words, recall, recant

9. archaicobsoletetransitiveTo distract or divert (someone) from a course of action, a goal, etc.

   I doe not flie, but aduantagious care, / VVith-drevv me from the ods of multitude, […]

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]

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   […] Puſillanimity; by vvhich that ſeems great to him, vvhich other men think a trifle: and vvhatſoever is nevv, or great, and therefore thought fit to be told, vvithdravves a man by degrees from the intended vvay of his diſcourſe.

   1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Vertues Commonly Called Intellectual; and Their Contrary Defects”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Of Man), page 33

   VVho can impair thee, mighty King, or bound / Thy Empire? eaſily the proud attempt / Of Spirits apoſtat and thir Counſels vaine / Thou haſt repeld, vvhile impiouſly they thought / Thee to diminiſh, and from thee vvithdravv / The number of thy vvorſhippers.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 608–613

10. transitivebankingTo extract (money) from a bank account or other financial deposit.

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    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.

    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, book II (Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock), page 403

    Antonyms: deposit

11. intransitiveChiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place.

    They [the doves] fed, and flutt'ring by degrees, vvithdrevv / Still further from the Place; but ſtill in vievv.

    1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 371, lines 91–92

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    [The] army togither with the kyng of Scottes and the other Lordes there founde, entred Scotland, and did muche hurte in the country of Galloway, deſtroying towns and all that they found abroade, but the people were fled and withdrawen out of theyr way. And when they had taken their pleaſure, the Kyng of Scottes retourned backe to Carleil.

    1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “King Edward the Thirde”, in The Laste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume II, London: […] for Iohn Hunne, →OCLC, page 897, column 2

    VVell daughter, and you gentlevvomen all, / VVithdravv into a chamber by your ſelues, / And vvhen I ſend for you come hither masked: […]

    1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]

    [Adrian Scrope] did moſt loyally attend his Majeſty at the fight at Edghill, vvhere receiving ſeveral vvounds, vvas left among the dead, as a dead perſon, there, but recovered by the immortal Dr. VVill[iam] Harvey, vvho vvas there, but vvithdravvn under a hedge vvith the Prince and Duke, vvhile the battel vvas in its height.

    1691, [Anthony Wood], “Fasti Oxonienses”, in Athenæ Oxonienses. An Exact History of All the Writers and Bishops who have had Their Education in the Most Ancient and Famous University of Oxford from the Fifteenth Year of King Henry the Seventh, Dom. 1500, to the End of the Year 1690. […], volume II (Completing the Whole Work), London: […] Tho[mas] Bennet […], →OCLC, column 711

    Upon withdrawing to my room after dinner, I was secretly touched with compassion towards the honest gentleman that had dined with us; […]

    1711 July 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, July 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 108; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 84

    Say, I fly for refuge unto the Lord of men, the king of men, the God of men, that he may deliver me from the miſchief of the vvhiſperer vvho ſlily vvithdravveth, vvho vvhiſpereth evil ſuggeſtions into the breatſs of men; from genii to men.

    1734, “Chapter CXIV. Intituled, Men; where It was Revealed is Disputed.”, in George Sale, transl., The Koran, Commonly Called The Alcoran of Mohammed, Translated into English Immediately from the Original Arabic; […], London: […] C. Ackers […], for J. Wilcox […], →OCLC, page 508

    Synonyms: retire

    1. intransitivespecificallygovernmentOf soldiers: to leave a battle or position where they are stationed; to retreat.

       I beg your Greatneſs not to give the Lavv / In others Realms, but, beaten, to vvithdravv.

       1697, Virgil, “The Eleventh Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 554, lines 558–559

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       King A horſe, a horſe, my kingdome for a horſe. / [Sir William] Cateſ[by]. VVithdravv my lord, Ile helpe you to a horſe.

       c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vii]

       All the forces in the field, both of the enemy and the confederates, are preparing to withdraw into winter-quarters.

       1709 October 30 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Wednesday, October 20, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 83; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 68

       Synonyms: retire

12. intransitiveChiefly followed by from: to stop taking part in some activity; also, to remove oneself from the company of others, from publicity, etc.

    Novv great Achilles from our Aid vvithdravvs, / By me provok'd; a Captive Maid the Cauſe: […]

    1715, Homer, “Book II”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 21, lines 448–449

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    I vvill vvithdravv from your Company; retire to the Shades, and perform my Penance of a Thouſand Years.

    1697, John Dryden, “Notes and Observations on Virgil’s Works in English”, in Virgil, translated by John Dryden, The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 631

    All four supporting acts for upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour have withdrawn in solidarity with fellow opening act Macklemore, as backlash grows against his removal from the tour over onstage comments in support of Palestine. Finneas, the singer who was scheduled to open for Sheeran on six South American dates in November, withdrew from the tour on Tuesday afternoon, hours after Sheeran posted his own lengthy statement to Instagram explaining pressure from venue owners to remove Macklemore for pro-Palestine comments made during two shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. […] “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas wrote on social media. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”

    2026 September 15, Adrian Horton, “All supporting acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2026

    Synonyms: step out, back out, retire

13. intransitiveTo stop talking to or interacting with other people and start thinking thoughts not related to what is happening.
14. intransitiveTo stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to undergo withdrawal.First known use 20th c.

    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.

    1992, Edward St Aubyn, chapter 5, in Bad News, London: Picador, published 2012, →ISBN, page 88

15. intransitiveOf a man: to remove the penis from a partner's body orifice before ejaculation; to engage in coitus interruptus.

    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.

    2002, Debbie Macomber, “1968 [chapter name]”, in Between Friends, Don Mills, Ont.: Mira Books, →ISBN, page 119

plural withdraws

1. obsoleteAn act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing.

   Indeed one of theſe VVitneſſes vvas over perſvvaded by ſome Perſons, to be out of the vvay, upon G. B.’s Trial; but he came aftervvards, vvith ſorrovv for his vvithdravv, and gave in his Teſtimony: […]

   1692 (indicated as 1693), Cotton Mather, “The Tryal of G[eorge] B[urroughs] at a Court of Oyer and Terminer, Held in Salem, 1692”, in The Wonders of the Invisible World. Observations as well Historical as Theological, upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations of the Devils. […], Boston, Mass.: […] Benjamin Harris, →OCLC, page 101

2. obsoletelawSynonym 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”).

   Synonyms: withdraught