retract

CEFRB2

/ɹɪˈtɹækt/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To take back something you said, or pull something inward.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To avert (one's eyes or a gaze).

Examples

  • I would like to retract my previous statement.

  • I won't retract that statement.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ɹiˈtɹækt/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To pull (something) back or back inside.

  2. To draw (an extended body part) back into the body.

  3. To pronounce (a sound, especially a vowel) farther to the back of the vocal tract.

More examples

In context

  • An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.

  • The bus was stuck at the stop as its wheelchair ramp wouldn’t retract after use.

  • A cat can retract its claws.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The cat will suddenly blank its sharp claws when it feels scared.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.