ret
reat
Third Person
retreats
Present Participle
retreating
Past Tense
retreated
Past Participle
retreated
1
(of military) to move away in order to escape the danger because one has been defeated or is weak
- Faced with overwhelming enemy forces, the battalion decided to retreat from the battlefield.
- During the battle, the soldiers were instructed to retreat to a more defensible position.
- The army had no choice but to retreat as the enemy's advance became too formidable.
- The forces strategically retreated to draw the enemy into less advantageous territory.
Antonyms:
2
to allow people's negative comments and criticisms change one's mind about something
- He quickly retreated from his position after realizing it wasn’t well-received by the team.
- The company had to retreat on their decision to raise prices, due to customer complaints.
- The politician retreated from his stance on healthcare after public criticism.
- His attempt to impose new regulations was met with resistance, causing him to retreat.
- Faced with strong opposition, the leader decided to retreat from the controversial decision.
3
to move back or withdraw to a safer or more comfortable place, especially to avoid something unpleasant
- When the sun blazes, the lizards retreat into the shade.
- The hikers retreated to the cave to escape the scorching heat.
- Birds often retreat to their nests during heavy rain.
- As the fire spread, the animals retreated deeper into the forest.
- He saw the waves rising and retreated farther up the shore.
Synonyms:
4
to withdraw to a quiet or secluded place for rest, reflection, or escape from stress or conflict
- After a long week, she decided to retreat to the cabin in the woods for some peace and quiet.
- The artist retreated to a remote studio to focus on his new painting.
- They retreated to their favorite café, away from the noise of the city, to relax.
- After the argument, he retreated to his room to cool down and gather his thoughts.
- The family retreated to the beach house to escape the hectic pace of city life.