1
a(1)
: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
(2)
: the process of receding from a position or state attained
the retreat of a glacier
b(1)
: the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position
(2)
: a signal for retreating
c(1)
: a signal given by bugle at the beginning of a military flag-lowering ceremony
(2)
: a military flag-lowering ceremony
2
: a place of privacy or safety : refuge
3
: a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director
retreated; retreating; retreats
: to draw or lead back : remove
specifically
: to move (a piece) back in chess
retreater
noun
Synonyms
Examples of retreat in a Sentence
Noun
Some of her friends were surprised by her retreat from public life following her defeat in the election.
we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered
Verb
When the enemy attacked, our troops were forced to retreat.
They retreated behind trees for safety.
He quickly retreated from the room.
After her defeat, she retreated from politics.
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda Laban, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Located on a barrier island just a short drive from downtown Miami, this resort is a tranquil retreat with its pristine beaches, tennis facilities, and a world-class spa.
—Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The proposal, announced Thursday by Mayor Todd Gloria, is a retreat from his controversial proposal to build a large shelter at H Barracks near Harbor Island.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
The private plane ride also has become part of the narrative in the couple’s legal battle over Chateau Miraval, the successful winery in the South of France that once served as their family’s retreat from the pressures of Hollywood celebrity.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The host is sharing a first look at the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom retreat that one lucky fan will get the keys to in the video tour, above.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
These sunrooms provide a tranquil retreat, perfect for relaxation or entertaining guests in a serene environment.
—Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024
Quarantine by Jim Crace This 1997 novel follows Jesus during his 40-day ascetic retreat to a desert cave.
—Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2024
When mom has a nervous breakdown at work and goes to Thailand for a meditation retreat, Tanya Crandell (Simone Joy Jones) and her siblings find themselves in the care of a babysitter, the stern and elderly Mrs. Sturak (Oscar nominee June Squibb).
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024
Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Investors shied away from high-growth stocks and retreated into companies with solid fundamentals and, most importantly, lots of profit.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
They will then be forced to retreat, as the church ladies did.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
In midfield, an Andreas Christensen with an achilles niggle sits this one out as Ilkay Gundogan retreats as a pivot and provides support to captain Sergio Roberto and Fermin Lopez.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
This gave Facebook greater dominance in its all-important ad division, plaintiffs allege, so the company was fine to retreat from Netflix’s streaming territory by shuttering Watch.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The video’s creation means the royals are taking this very seriously
Public concern and speculation about Catherine spiked after her abdominal surgery in January and retreat from public view.
—Alice Li, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The shares later retreated after further reporting indicated that Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount’s fate, wasn’t enthused about the private equity giant’s bid.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Sullivan arrived in Ukraine as the country’s forces are on their back foot, having retreated from the eastern city of Avdiivka and facing Russian advances across the front lines.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
Back in 1933, banking scion William Avery Rockefeller built the Point Resort as a private retreat for his family in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York.
—Linda Laban, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Located on a barrier island just a short drive from downtown Miami, this resort is a tranquil retreat with its pristine beaches, tennis facilities, and a world-class spa.
—Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The proposal, announced Thursday by Mayor Todd Gloria, is a retreat from his controversial proposal to build a large shelter at H Barracks near Harbor Island.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
The private plane ride also has become part of the narrative in the couple’s legal battle over Chateau Miraval, the successful winery in the South of France that once served as their family’s retreat from the pressures of Hollywood celebrity.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The host is sharing a first look at the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom retreat that one lucky fan will get the keys to in the video tour, above.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
These sunrooms provide a tranquil retreat, perfect for relaxation or entertaining guests in a serene environment.
—Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024
Quarantine by Jim Crace This 1997 novel follows Jesus during his 40-day ascetic retreat to a desert cave.
—Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2024
When mom has a nervous breakdown at work and goes to Thailand for a meditation retreat, Tanya Crandell (Simone Joy Jones) and her siblings find themselves in the care of a babysitter, the stern and elderly Mrs. Sturak (Oscar nominee June Squibb).
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Recession fears retreated as economic indicators exceeded expectations again and again.
—Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
Investors shied away from high-growth stocks and retreated into companies with solid fundamentals and, most importantly, lots of profit.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
They will then be forced to retreat, as the church ladies did.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
In midfield, an Andreas Christensen with an achilles niggle sits this one out as Ilkay Gundogan retreats as a pivot and provides support to captain Sergio Roberto and Fermin Lopez.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
This gave Facebook greater dominance in its all-important ad division, plaintiffs allege, so the company was fine to retreat from Netflix’s streaming territory by shuttering Watch.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The video’s creation means the royals are taking this very seriously
Public concern and speculation about Catherine spiked after her abdominal surgery in January and retreat from public view.
—Alice Li, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The shares later retreated after further reporting indicated that Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount’s fate, wasn’t enthused about the private equity giant’s bid.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Sullivan arrived in Ukraine as the country’s forces are on their back foot, having retreated from the eastern city of Avdiivka and facing Russian advances across the front lines.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retreat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near retreat
Cite this Entry
“Retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retreat. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retreat
1 of 2 noun
re·treat
ri-ˈtrēt 
1
a
: an act of going away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
b
: a military retreat from the enemy
c
: a signal for retreating
2
: a place of privacy or safety : refuge
3
: a period of withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director
went on a spiritual retreat
retreat
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a retreat
2
: to slope backward
retreater
noun
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