Retreat Meaning and Definition
"Retreat" means to move back or withdraw, often from danger or difficulty. e.g., The army decided to retreat when faced with stronger opponents.
Table of Contents
Retreat Definitions
Retreat is the act of pulling back, especially from an enemy.
The general ordered a retreat.
Retreat means a place to relax and rejuvenate.
The spa offers a wellness retreat for its guests.
Retreat can be a signal in the military to withdraw.
The bugle played the retreat at sunset.
Retreat is the act of moving away from something.
When the dog barked, the cat made a hasty retreat.
The act or process of moving back or away, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant
Made a retreat from hectic city life to the country.
Withdrawal of a military force from a dangerous position or from an enemy attack.
The process of receding from a position or of becoming smaller
Glaciers in retreat from positions of advancement.
The process of changing or undergoing change in one's thinking or in a position
A leader's retreat from political radicalism.
A decline in value
A retreat in housing prices.
A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security.
A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.
A period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, or study
A religious retreat.
The signal for a military withdrawal
Sound the retreat!.
A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
The military ceremony of lowering the flag.
To move backward or away; withdraw or retire
Retreated to his study. See Synonyms at recede1.
To make a military retreat.
To move back from a position of advancement or become smaller
Land that emerged when the oceans retreated.
To change or undergo change in one's thinking or in a position
They retreated from their demands.
To decline in value
Stocks retreated in morning trading.
To move (a chess piece) back.
The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
A peaceful, quiet place in which to urinate and defecate: an outhouse; a lavatory.
A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
We both need a week retreat after those two stressful years working in the city.
A period of meditation, prayer or study.
Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
The general opted for a swift retreat because he saw his troops were vastly outnumbered.
A signal for a military withdrawal.
A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
A military ceremony to lower the flag.
(chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.
To withdraw from a position, go back.
To withdraw military forces
The general refused to order his soldiers to retreat, despite being vastly outnumbered.
To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures.
To slope back.
A retreating forehead
The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.
In a retreat he o truns any lackey.
The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum.
He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat.
That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreatFrom sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position.
A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.
To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.
The rapid currents driveTowards the retreating sea their furious tide.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat;
The disorderly retreat of French troops
A place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
An area where you can be alone
Withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation;
A religious retreat
Pull back or move away or backward;
The enemy withdrew
The limo pulled away from the curb
Move away, as for privacy;
The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer
Move back;
The glacier retrogrades
Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity;
We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him
He backed out of his earlier promise
The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns
Retreat refers to a place of privacy or safety.
She went to the mountains for a peaceful retreat.
Retreat can mean a decline or decrease in something.
The stock market experienced a slight retreat.
Retreat denotes a period of seclusion for religious reflection.
Monks often go on a retreat to meditate.
Retreat signifies moving backward from a previous position.
The waves retreat from the shore at low tide.
Retreat is a withdrawal from commitments or responsibilities.
He took a retreat from work to focus on his health.
Retreat indicates a change in one's opinion or strategy.
The politician made a quick retreat on his earlier statement.
Retreat Idioms & Phrases
Retreat into one's shell
To become introverted or avoid social interaction.
After the embarrassing incident, she retreated into her shell and stopped attending parties.
Retreat from the limelight
To intentionally step back from public attention or fame.
After a decade of blockbuster movies, the actress decided to retreat from the limelight.
Make a hasty retreat
To leave quickly or escape from an unpleasant situation.
Seeing his ex-girlfriend at the party, John made a hasty retreat.
The retreat of dreams
A peaceful and ideal place where one can relax and escape reality.
The cabin in the woods was her retreat of dreams.
Retreat to the shadows
To stay out of attention or sight, often after a period of prominence.
Once the most popular artist in town, he slowly retreated to the shadows.
Retreat to familiar grounds
To return to a place or situation where one feels comfortable or safe.
Whenever he felt overwhelmed, he'd retreat to familiar grounds by visiting his childhood home.
The silent retreat of the mind
The act of introspection or deep thinking, escaping external distractions.
Meditation allowed him a silent retreat of the mind.
Retreat behind closed doors
To avoid public scrutiny or attention by keeping matters private.
After the scandal, the CEO retreated behind closed doors.
Retreat to one's corner
To step back and reassess or regroup.
After the heated debate, both parties retreated to their corners.
Allow the waves to retreat
To let things calm down or wait for a situation to normalize.
After the controversy, they decided to lay low and allow the waves to retreat.
Retreat to nature's embrace
To seek solace, peace, or rejuvenation in natural surroundings.
Overwhelmed by city life, she decided to retreat to nature's embrace.
A retreat to remember
An exceptionally relaxing or rejuvenating experience.
The spa weekend was truly a retreat to remember.
Retreat into the pages
To immerse oneself in reading as an escape from reality.
During tough times, she would retreat into the pages of her favorite novels.
Beat a tactical retreat
To withdraw from a situation for strategic reasons.
Realizing they were outnumbered, the general decided to beat a tactical retreat.
Retreat from a promise
To back out or fail to uphold a commitment.
The politician faced backlash when he retreated from his campaign promise.
Retreat without defeat
To step back or withdraw without losing dignity or without being bested.
She gracefully declined the offer, retreating without defeat.
Retreat from the frontline
To step back from a prominent or active role in a particular situation.
After years of leading the campaign, she chose to retreat from the frontline.
The retreat of time
The inevitable passing or fading of moments and memories.
The golden days of summer were now just a retreat of time.
Retreat behind words
To use rhetoric or language as a defense mechanism or to avoid confronting the truth.
Instead of admitting his mistake, he retreated behind words.
A retreat in motion
A continual process of stepping back or reassessing situations in life.
His constant travel seemed like a retreat in motion, always moving away from something.
Retreat Example Sentences
The water started to retreat after the heavy rain.
We planned a weekend retreat to the countryside.
The retreat was scheduled for spiritual healing.
The soldiers were told to retreat to safer ground.
The glacier has continued to retreat over the past decade.
The retreat offered yoga, meditation, and relaxation techniques.
They held their annual company retreat in the mountains.
Many artists retreat to nature for inspiration.
Every evening, she would retreat to her room to read.
As the noise grew louder, the birds began their retreat.
The snail would retreat into its shell whenever it felt threatened.
After a long day, he liked to retreat to his garden.
She took a step back in retreat when she saw the snake.
When faced with criticism, he often chose to retreat rather than argue.
The sun began to set, signaling a retreat of light.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Retreat?
It's called "retreat" because it originates from the Old French "retret" meaning "withdrawal" or "pull back."
How do we divide Retreat into syllables?
Retreat is divided as re-treat.
What is the root word of Retreat?
The root is the Old French word "retret," meaning "withdrawal."
What is the verb form of Retreat?
The verb form is also "retreat," as in "to retreat."
What is a stressed syllable in Retreat?
The second syllable, "treat," is stressed in "retreat."
How many syllables are in Retreat?
There are two syllables in "retreat."
How is Retreat used in a sentence?
She decided to go on a retreat to find inner peace.
What is the pronunciation of Retreat?
It is pronounced as /rɪˈtriːt/.
What is the second form of Retreat?
The second form is "retreated."
What part of speech is Retreat?
"Retreat" can be both a verb and a noun.
What is the singular form of Retreat?
The singular form is "retreat."
What is the plural form of Retreat?
The plural form is "retreats."
What is the first form of Retreat?
As a verb, the first form is "retreat."
Is the Retreat term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically, as in "a retreat from responsibilities."
Is Retreat an abstract noun?
In some contexts, like a spiritual retreat, it can be considered abstract. However, in a military context, it's more concrete.
Is Retreat a collective noun?
No, "retreat" is not a collective noun.
Is the word Retreat is Gerund?
"Retreating" is the gerund form of "retreat."
Which determiner is used with Retreat?
Determiners like "a," "the," "my," "our," and "this" can be used with "retreat" depending on the context.
Which article is used with Retreat?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "retreat" depending on the context.
What is another term for Retreat?
Another term is "withdrawal."
Is Retreat an adverb?
No, "retreat" is not an adverb.
Is Retreat a negative or positive word?
It's neutral, but the connotation can be negative or positive depending on the context.
Is Retreat a vowel or consonant?
"Retreat" is a word, not a single letter, so it contains both vowels and consonants.
Which conjunction is used with Retreat?
Any conjunction can be used with "retreat" based on the sentence structure, such as "and," "but," or "or."
What is the third form of Retreat?
The third form is "retreated."
What is the opposite of Retreat?
The opposite is "advance."
Is Retreat a noun or adjective?
"Retreat" is primarily a noun, but can also be a verb. It is not an adjective.
Is Retreat a countable noun?
Yes, it can be countable. For example, "We went on three retreats this year."
Is the word Retreat is imperative?
It can be used as an imperative verb, as in "Retreat!"
Is the word “Retreat” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Retreat" can be used as a direct object, e.g., "They ordered a retreat."
Which vowel is used before Retreat?
This depends on the context of the sentence. Most commonly, no vowel precedes it.
Which preposition is used with Retreat?
Prepositions like "to," "from," "on," and "at" can be used with "retreat," depending on the context.
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