withdraw

verb

with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
with-
withdrew wit͟h-ˈdrü How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
with-
; withdrawn wit͟h-ˈdrȯn How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
with-
; withdrawing wit͟h-ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
with-

transitive verb

1
a
: to take back or away : remove
pressure upon educational administrators to withdraw academic creditJ. W. Scott
b
: to remove from use or cultivation
c
: to remove (money) from a place of deposit
d
: to turn away (something, such as one's eyes) from an object of attention
withdrew her gaze
e
: to draw (something, such as a curtain) back or aside
2
a
: to remove from consideration or set outside a group
withdrew his name from the list of nominees
withdrew their child from the school
b(1)
(2)
: to recall or remove (a motion) under parliamentary procedure

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move back or away : retire
b
: to draw back from a battlefield : retreat
2
a
: to remove oneself from participation
b
: to become socially or emotionally detached
had withdrawn farther and farther into herselfEthel Wilson
3
: to recall a motion under parliamentary procedure
withdrawable adjective

Examples of withdraw in a Sentence

She withdrew $200 from her checking account. The prosecutor withdrew her question to the witness. They have withdrawn the charges. withdraw support for a candidate
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Waltz is now Trump's national security advisor, but Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 The race attracted serious fundraising from Democrats, and was in the spotlight after President Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik's name from consideration for U.N. ambassador to avoid risking further depleting his party's already narrow majority. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2025 Zoom in: The decision came shortly after USAGM special adviser Kari Lake withdrew an order to terminate the 2025 funding grant for VOA's sister broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Sara Fischer, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025 But last week, her nomination was unexpectedly withdrawn by the Trump White House amid fears that vacating her House seat could jeopardize the Republican Party's narrow majority in Congress. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for withdraw

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from with from + drawen to draw

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of withdraw was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Withdraw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/withdraw. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

withdraw

verb
with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
with-
withdrew -ˈdrü How to pronounce withdraw (audio) ; withdrawn -ˈdrȯn How to pronounce withdraw (audio) ; withdrawing -ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
1
: to take back or away : draw away : remove
withdraw money from the bank
2
a
: to call back : recall
withdrew the charge of theft
b
: to take back (one's words) : retract
3
: to go away : retreat
withdrew to the country

Medical Definition

withdraw

verb
with·​draw wit͟h-ˈdrȯ How to pronounce withdraw (audio) with- How to pronounce withdraw (audio)
withdrew -ˈdrü How to pronounce withdraw (audio) ; withdrawn -ˈdrȯn How to pronounce withdraw (audio) ; withdrawing -ˈdrȯ(-)iŋ How to pronounce withdraw (audio)

transitive verb

: to discontinue use or administration of
withdraw a drug

intransitive verb

: to become socially or emotionally detached

Legal Definition

withdraw

verb
with·​draw
withdrew; withdrawn; withdrawing

transitive verb

1
: to remove (money) from a place of deposit or investment
2
: to dismiss (a juror) from a jury
3
a
: to eliminate from consideration or set outside a category or group
withdraw his candidacy
b
: to cease to proceed with
withdrew the question after an objection was sustained
c
: to take back
withdraw a plea
d
: to remove (a motion) from consideration under parliamentary procedure

intransitive verb

1
: to remove oneself from participation
withdraw from a case
specifically : to cease participation in a conspiracy by an affirmative act of renunciation especially involving confession to the authorities or communication of abandonment to co-conspirators
2
: to remove a motion from consideration under parliamentary procedure

More from Merriam-Webster on withdraw

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