noun
retreat
rih-TREET
noun
1
The act of pulling back from danger, especially a military withdrawal.
"The army sounded the retreat as enemy forces closed in."
"The soldiers began an orderly retreat under heavy fire."
2
A quiet, peaceful place, or a period spent away from ordinary life for rest or reflection.
"They booked a weekend retreat in the mountains."
"She went on a silent meditation retreat to clear her head."
verb
1
To pull back or withdraw from a position, especially in the face of danger or difficulty.
"The troops retreated to higher ground."
"He retreated into silence whenever the topic came up."
How to Use Retreat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPulling back from danger or difficulty, or a peaceful getaway for rest and reflection.
Common pairings
a hasty retreat
a weekend retreat
retreat into silence
beat a retreat
Word Forms
retreated past tense, retreats plural, retreats singular
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The army sounded the _____ as enemy forces closed in.
Etymology
From Old French retret, ultimately from Latin retrahere, "to draw back" — a doublet of "retract."