withdraw
wihth-DRAW
Withdraw (verb) means to take money out of a bank account. Example: “I need to withdraw some cash before we go to the market.”
verb
1
To take money out of a bank account.
"I need to withdraw some cash before we go to the market."
"You can withdraw money from your account at any branch during opening hours."
"She withdrew two hundred pounds from the cash machine."
2
To remove or pull something back, or to take back something previously offered or stated.
"She withdrew her hand quickly when she felt how hot the pan was."
"He withdrew his offer after the deal fell through."
"The company withdrew the product following safety concerns."
3
To leave a place, activity, or group, often to remove oneself from attention or engagement.
"After the argument, he withdrew to his room and refused to speak to anyone."
"The troops withdrew from the border region."
"She withdrew from the competition due to injury."
How to use withdraw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull back, take out (like money), or leave/quit something.
Common pairings
withdraw cash
withdraw from a competition
withdraw troops
withdraw an offer
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Word forms
- Plural
- withdraws
- Third person singular
- withdraws
- Past tense
- withdrew, withdrawn
- Archaic forms
- withdrawest, withdrewst, withdraweth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I need to _____ some cash before we go to the market.
Etymology
From Middle English withdrawen, formed from with- (meaning "away" or "back") plus draw.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “withdraw” mean?
The word “withdraw” means to take money out of a bank account. In plain terms, to pull back, take out (like money), or leave/quit something.
How do you pronounce “withdraw”?
“Withdraw” is pronounced wihth-DRAW (/wɪðˈdɹɔ/ in IPA).
How do you use “withdraw” in a sentence?
Here is “withdraw” used in a sentence: “She withdrew two hundred pounds from the cash machine.”
What part of speech is “withdraw”?
“Withdraw” is a verb.
Where does the word “withdraw” come from?
The word “withdraw” comes from Middle English. From Middle English withdrawen, formed from with- (meaning "away" or "back") plus draw.
Is “withdraw” a common word?
“Withdraw” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “withdraw” have?
“Withdraw” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take money out of a bank account.
What is the difference between withdraw and remove?
Both mean to take something away, but withdraw usually implies pulling something back to its source or taking back something previously offered, such as an offer, a statement, or troops. Remove is more general and simply means to take something away from a place.
What is the past tense of withdraw?
The past tense is withdrew and the past participle is withdrawn, following the same irregular pattern as draw. "Withdrawed" is a common error; the correct forms are "he withdrew the money" and "the offer was withdrawn."
What is the difference between withdraw and retreat?
Both can mean to pull back, but retreat chiefly describes moving away from danger or an enemy, while withdraw covers a wider range: taking money out of an account, taking back an offer or statement, or removing oneself from an activity or group. In military contexts, withdraw is also the more formal, neutral choice.
Which preposition follows withdraw?
"From" is by far the most common: you withdraw money from an account, withdraw from a competition or agreement, and withdraw a product from sale. When withdraw means to take back a statement or offer, it usually takes a direct object with no preposition at all.
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