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; withdrawn wit͟h-ˈdrȯn How to pronounce withdraw (audio)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had withdrawn farther and farther into herselfEthel Wilson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 They have withdrawn the charges.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Recent Examples on the Web Police did not say how much money was withdrawn from Layman’s account and have not listed a cause of death. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 That total includes takings from its previous official debut on Feb. 10, when it was released at Chinese New Year, but was overwhelmed by a quartet of market leaders and was quickly withdrawn from release, pending a second attempt. Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 In a separate wind energy project, Terra-Gen in June 2023 contacted the Board of Supervisors and withdrew its application to construct the Torrey Wind Project, a 126-megawatt facility in Boulevard that would consist of 30 turbines. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 Some of her clients who had previously applied for relief quickly withdrew their applications before receiving funding, claiming they had been misled. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 If magnet school bus transportation is nixed, the Louisville NAACP will withdraw its support of the new student assignment plan, Cunningham said. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 21 Mar. 2024 Article 23 legislation was first proposed and withdrawn after mass protests more than 20 years ago. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 This rule has a few exceptions, like withdrawing cash at an ATM. Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2024 The Courte Oreilles Lake Association had filed its first citizen complaint against cranberry growers for phosphorus runoff in 2000, but couldn't pay for a formal discovery for court proceedings and withdrew the complaint. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'withdraw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near withdraw

Cite this Entry

“Withdraw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/withdraw. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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