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Retreat synonyms

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quail
To draw back in fear; lose heart or courage; cower
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  1. To draw back in fear; lose heart or courage; cower
run
(--- Informal) To depart; leave:
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  1. (--- Informal) To depart; leave:
  2. To get past or escape by going through
  3. To go rapidly; move swiftly
reel
To give way or fall back; sway, waver, or stagger as from being struck
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  1. To give way or fall back; sway, waver, or stagger as from being struck
  2. To go around and around; whirl
  3. To go round and round in a whirling motion:
pull back
Used other than as an idiom. To pull in a backwards direction
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  1. Used other than as an idiom. To pull in a backwards direction
  2. (Sports) To pass (the ball) into a position further from the attacking goal line.
  3. To pull in order to reveal something underneath or behind.
reverse
To direct that (a charge) apply to the person receiving instead of making a telephone call.
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  1. To direct that (a charge) apply to the person receiving instead of making a telephone call.
  2. To turn inside out or upside down:
  3. To move, go, or turn backward or in the opposite direction
retirement
The age at which one withdraws from work or activity:
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  1. The age at which one withdraws from work or activity:
  2. A retiring or being retired; specif., withdrawal from work, business, etc. because of age
  3. Privacy or seclusion:
removal
The fact of being removed.
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  1. The fact of being removed.
  2. An altering or moving of a person or thing from one location to another.
  3. A taking away or being taken away
evacuation
The act of evacuating or the condition of being evacuated.
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  1. The act of evacuating or the condition of being evacuated.
  2. (Physiology) Discharge of waste materials from the excretory passages of the body, especially from the bowels.
  3. Something evacuated; specif., feces
departure
A starting out, as on a trip or new course of action
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  1. A starting out, as on a trip or new course of action
  2. A divergence or deviation, as from an established rule, plan, or procedure:
  3. A departing, or going away
escape
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness:
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  1. A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness:
  2. (Computers) A key used especially to interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program.
  3. A means or way of escape
withdrawal
The act or process of giving up the use of a narcotic drug to which one has become addicted, typically accompanied by distressing physiological and mental effects (withdrawal symptoms)
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  1. The act or process of giving up the use of a narcotic drug to which one has become addicted, typically accompanied by distressing physiological and mental effects (withdrawal symptoms)
  2. A removal of something that has been deposited, as in an account.
  3. The physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies such discontinuation:
reversal
A usually adverse change in fortune:
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  1. A usually adverse change in fortune:
  2. A change in fortune; a change from being successful to having problems.
  3. The setting aside or overturning of a lower court’s decision by an appellate court; a turning around of the short-term market price trend of a security, either from downward to upward, or the other way around. The setting aside or overturning of a lower court’s decision by an appellate court; a turning around of the short-term market price trend of a security, either from downward to upward, or the other way around.
retrogression
A deterioration or decline to a previous state
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  1. A deterioration or decline to a previous state
  2. (Biol.) A return to a lower, less complex stage or state; degeneration
  3. (Biology) A return to a less complex condition
flight
The distance covered in such motion:
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  1. The distance covered in such motion:
  2. A group of things flying through the air together
  3. The distance covered or that can be covered at one time by an airplane, bird, projectile, etc.
recession
The period of economic decline from the peak to the trough of the business cycle, characterized by decreasing aggregate output and often by rising unemployment.
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  1. The period of economic decline from the peak to the trough of the business cycle, characterized by decreasing aggregate output and often by rising unemployment.
  2. The motion of celestial objects away from one another in an expanding universe.
  3. A going back or receding; withdrawal
retraction
(Mathematics) A continuous function from a topological space onto a subspace which is the identity on that subspace.
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  1. (Mathematics) A continuous function from a topological space onto a subspace which is the identity on that subspace.
  2. The power of drawing back or of being drawn back.
  3. The act of taking back or withdrawing (a statement, a plea, an accusation, or a condition of a contract); the withdrawing or taking back of a renunciation. See also renunciation. The act of taking back or withdrawing (a statement, a plea, an accusation, or a condition of a contract); the withdrawing or taking back of a renunciation. See also renunciation.
going
Progress
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  1. Progress
  2. The condition underfoot as it affects one's headway in walking or riding:
  3. The suitability of ground for riding, walking etc.
evasion
An evading; specif., an avoiding of a duty, question, etc. by deceit or cleverness
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  1. An evading; specif., an avoiding of a duty, question, etc. by deceit or cleverness
  2. A means of evading; a subterfuge.
  3. A way of doing this; subterfuge
avoidance
(Law) The act of making void; annulment
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  1. (Law) The act of making void; annulment
  2. The act of keeping away from, escaping, evading, or preventing.
  3. The act of avoiding, or shunning something
recoil
The act or state of recoiling; reaction.
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  1. The act or state of recoiling; reaction.
  2. The backward action of a firearm upon firing.
seclusion
The act of secluding:
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  1. The act of secluding:
  2. (Archaic) A secluded place or abode.
  3. The state of being secluded:
solitude
A lonely or deserted place.
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  1. A lonely or deserted place.
  2. The state of being secluded or uninhabited:
  3. The state or quality of being alone or remote from others:
privacy
The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion:
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  1. The state of being free from public attention or unsanctioned intrusion:
  2. One's private life or personal affairs
  3. The state of being private; the state of not being seen by others.
shelter
Something that covers or protects; protection, or place affording protection, as from the elements or danger
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  1. Something that covers or protects; protection, or place affording protection, as from the elements or danger
  2. Something, especially a structure, that provides cover or protection, as from the weather:
  3. The state of being covered or protected:
refuge
A state of safety, protection or shelter.
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  1. A state of safety, protection or shelter.
  2. A place providing protection or shelter:
  3. Protection or shelter, as from danger or hardship:
asylum
A place offering protection and safety; a shelter.
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  1. A place offering protection and safety; a shelter.
  2. The protection given by a sanctuary or refuge or by one country to refugees from another country
  3. A place of refuge, sanctuary, or shelter, especially an institution for the maintenance and care of people requiring special assistance. A place of refuge, sanctuary, or shelter, especially an institution for the maintenance and care of people requiring special assistance.
defense
The fact or state of being defended
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  1. The fact or state of being defended
  2. The military, governmental, and industrial complex, especially as it authorizes and manages weaponry production.
  3. Collectively, the attorneys representing a defendant and any laypeople assisting them in their efforts, particularly in a criminal trial. In litigation, generally a factual denial or an assertion of facts or law that counters or negates a claim made by the other party. See also self defense. Collectively, the attorneys representing a defendant and any laypeople assisting them in their efforts, particularly in a criminal trial. In litigation, generally a factual denial or an assertion of facts or law that counters or negates a claim made by the other party. See also self defense.
sanctuary
A place of refuge or protection; asylum: orig., fugitives from justice were immune from arrest in churches or other sacred places
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  1. A place of refuge or protection; asylum: orig., fugitives from justice were immune from arrest in churches or other sacred places
  2. A holy place, as a building set aside for worship of the divinity or of one or more deities
  3. A particularly holy place within a church or temple, as the part around the altar, the holy of holies in the Jewish Temple, etc.
security
An organization or department whose task is protection or safety, esp. a private police force hired to patrol or guard a building, park, or other area
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  1. An organization or department whose task is protection or safety, esp. a private police force hired to patrol or guard a building, park, or other area
  2. Measures adopted, as by a business or homeowner, to prevent a crime such as burglary or assault:
  3. A group or department of private guards:
cover
(Music) A cover version.
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  1. (Music) A cover version.
  2. An activity or organization that is used to conceal an illegal or secret activity:
  3. Strategic protection given by armed units during hostile action:
ark
A place or thing furnishing protection; refuge
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  1. A place or thing furnishing protection; refuge
  2. A large, flat-bottomed boat formerly used on rivers
  3. The boat built by the Biblical Noah to carry himself and the animals of the planet during the Flood; (see Noah's Ark)
harbor
A place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter
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  1. A place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter
  2. A protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities
  3. A sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.
port
(--- Comput.) The circuit, outlet, etc. which serves as a connection between a computer and its peripheral
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  1. (--- Comput.) The circuit, outlet, etc. which serves as a connection between a computer and its peripheral
  2. A hole in an armored vehicle or a fortified structure for viewing or for firing weapons.
  3. A place where data can pass into or out of a central processing unit, computer, or peripheral. With central processing units, a port is a fixed set of connections for incoming and outgoing data or instructions. With computers and peripherals, a port is generally a socket into which a connector can be plugged.
haven
A place of refuge or rest; a sanctuary.
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  1. A place of refuge or rest; a sanctuary.
  2. A harbor or anchorage; a port.
hiding-place
A place where something or someone may be safely hidden
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  1. A place where something or someone may be safely hidden
hideaway
A secluded or isolated place.
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  1. A secluded or isolated place.
  2. A hiding place, somewhere you can go to get away from other people
  3. A place where one can hide, be secluded, etc.
resort
(Obsolete) Active power or movement; spring.
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  1. (Obsolete) Active power or movement; spring.
  2. A customary or frequent going or gathering:
  3. A place to which people go often or generally, esp. one for rest or recreation, as on a vacation
haunt
(Chiefly Southern US) A ghost or other supernatural being.
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  1. (Chiefly Southern US) A ghost or other supernatural being.
  2. A place often visited
  3. A place much frequented.
habitat
An artificial environment created for an animal to live in:
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  1. An artificial environment created for an animal to live in:
  2. The region where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives; native environment
  3. The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors such as soil, moisture, range of temperature, and availability of light as well as biotic factors such as the availability of food and the presence of predators. A habitat is not necessarily a geographic area—for a parasitic organism it is the body of its host or even a cell within the host's body.
hermitage
The condition or way of life of a hermit.
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  1. The condition or way of life of a hermit.
  2. A place where a person can live away from other people; secluded retreat
  3. A place where one can live in seclusion; a retreat.
cell
(Architecture) The smallest organizational unit of a clandestine group or movement, such as a banned political movement or a terrorist group. A cell's leader is often the only person who knows members of the organization outside the cell.
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  1. (Architecture) The smallest organizational unit of a clandestine group or movement, such as a banned political movement or a terrorist group. A cell's leader is often the only person who knows members of the organization outside the cell.
  2. A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy:
  3. A storm cell.
convent
The building or buildings occupied by such a community
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  1. The building or buildings occupied by such a community
  2. A community of nuns or, sometimes, monks, living under strict religious vows
  3. A community, especially of nuns, bound by vows to a religious life under a superior.
cloister
Life in a monastery or convent.
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  1. Life in a monastery or convent.
  2. A place, especially a monastery or convent, devoted to religious seclusion.
  3. An arched way or covered walk along the inside wall or walls of a monastery, convent, church, or college building, with a columned opening along one side leading to a courtyard or garden
recede
To slope away from a point of reference:
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  1. To slope away from a point of reference:
  2. To yield or grant to one formerly in possession; cede (something) back.
  3. To go or move back from a former position
withdraw
To discontinue the use of a drug or other substance, especially one that is addictive.
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  1. To discontinue the use of a drug or other substance, especially one that is addictive.
  2. To remove from use, consideration, etc.
  3. To move back; go away; retreat
retrograde
Having a brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement in the sky as viewed from Earth against the background of fixed stars. Retrograde movement of the planets is caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed. For example, the outer planets normally appear to drift gradually eastward in the sky in relation to the fixed stars; that is, they appear night after night to fall a little farther behind the neighboring stars in their westward passage across the sky. However, at certain times a particular planet appears briefly to speed up and move westward a bit more quickly than the neighboring stars. This happens as Earth, in its faster inner orbit, overtakes and passes the planet in its slower outer orbit; the appearance of moving counter to its usual eastward drift is thus simply the result of perspective as seen from Earth.
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  1. Having a brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement in the sky as viewed from Earth against the background of fixed stars. Retrograde movement of the planets is caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed. For example, the outer planets normally appear to drift gradually eastward in the sky in relation to the fixed stars; that is, they appear night after night to fall a little farther behind the neighboring stars in their westward passage across the sky. However, at certain times a particular planet appears briefly to speed up and move westward a bit more quickly than the neighboring stars. This happens as Earth, in its faster inner orbit, overtakes and passes the planet in its slower outer orbit; the appearance of moving counter to its usual eastward drift is thus simply the result of perspective as seen from Earth.
  2. (Archaic) To move or seem to move backward.
  3. (Archaic) To go, or seem to go, backward
back-out
(Idiomatic) To dare someone to not withdraw from a challenge.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To dare someone to not withdraw from a challenge.
  2. (Idiomatic) To withdraw from something one has agreed to do.
  3. (Idiomatic, computing) To undo a change.
retract
To withdraw or disavow (a statement, promise, offer, charge, etc.); recant
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  1. To withdraw or disavow (a statement, promise, offer, charge, etc.); recant
  2. To draw back:
  3. To take something back or disavow it.
leave
To go without taking or removing:
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  1. To go without taking or removing:
  2. To go away from
  3. To set out or depart; go:
go
(Informal) To urinate or defecate:
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  1. (Informal) To urinate or defecate:
  2. To move off; leave; depart
  3. To be discarded or abolished:
depart
To turn aside (from)
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  1. To turn aside (from)
  2. To set out; start
  3. To go away from; leave:
recoil
To fall back; return:
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  1. To fall back; return:
shrink
To become or seem to become smaller, more compact, etc.; contract, as from heat, cold, moisture, etc.
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  1. To become or seem to become smaller, more compact, etc.; contract, as from heat, cold, moisture, etc.
  2. To become or appear to become smaller:
  3. To move back or away, especially in fear:
hide
To prevent the disclosure or recognition of; conceal:
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  1. To prevent the disclosure or recognition of; conceal:
  2. To turn away
  3. To put or keep out of sight or away from notice:
regress
To return to a previous, usually worse or less developed state:
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  1. To return to a previous, usually worse or less developed state:
  2. To move backward or away from a reference point; recede:
  3. To go back; return; move backward
resign
To submit (oneself) passively; accept as inevitable:
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  1. To submit (oneself) passively; accept as inevitable:
  2. To give up one's job or office; quit, especially by formal notification:
  3. To give up possession of; relinquish (a claim, etc.)
relinquish
To renounce or surrender (something owned, a right, etc.)
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  1. To renounce or surrender (something owned, a right, etc.)
  2. To give up or abandon (control of something or a claim, for example).
  3. To let go (a grasp, hold, etc.)
hand over
(Idiomatic) To relinquish control or possession of something to someone.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To relinquish control or possession of something to someone.
retrocede
To go back; recede.
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  1. To go back; recede.
backtrack
To return to a previous point or subject, as in a lecture or discussion.
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  1. To return to a previous point or subject, as in a lecture or discussion.
  2. To retrace one's steps
  3. To go back over the course by which one has come.
back down
(Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
evacuate
To excrete or discharge waste matter from (the bowel, for example).
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  1. To excrete or discharge waste matter from (the bowel, for example).
  2. To give up military occupation of; withdraw from
  3. To empty or remove (fluid, for example) from a closed space or container.
abandon
To give up (something) completely or forever
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  1. To give up (something) completely or forever
  2. To give up by leaving or ceasing to operate or inhabit, especially as a result of danger or other impending threat:
  3. To leave, as in danger or out of necessity; forsake; desert
leave
To cause or allow to remain; not take away
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  1. To cause or allow to remain; not take away
  2. To give or deposit, as for use or information, upon one's departure or in one's absence:
  3. To set out or depart; go:
withdraw
To move back; go away; retreat
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  1. To move back; go away; retreat
  2. To leave or return, as from a military position.
  3. To remove from use, consideration, etc.
back-out
To reverse a vehicle from a confined space.
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  1. To reverse a vehicle from a confined space.
  2. (Idiomatic) To withdraw from something one has agreed to do.
  3. (Idiomatic, computing) To undo a change.
retire
To go to bed.
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  1. To go to bed.
  2. To give ground, as in battle; retreat; withdraw
  3. Applying to drafts, to redeem by paying out a sum of money; to withdraw from the market by buying back; a voluntary leaving of public office, or other form of employment; a leaving the courtroom by the jury to consider the case, or by the judge to her chambers. Applying to drafts, to redeem by paying out a sum of money; to withdraw from the market by buying back; a voluntary leaving of public office, or other form of employment; a leaving the courtroom by the jury to consider the case, or by the judge to her chambers.
remove
To move (something) from where it is; lift, push, transfer, or carry away, or from one place to another
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  1. To move (something) from where it is; lift, push, transfer, or carry away, or from one place to another
  2. To go away; depart.
  3. To take, extract, separate, or withdraw (someone or something from)
disengage
(Intransitive) To release or loosen from something that binds, holds, entangles, or interlocks; unfasten; detach; disentangle; free.
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  1. (Intransitive) To release or loosen from something that binds, holds, entangles, or interlocks; unfasten; detach; disentangle; free.
  2. To release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles.
  3. To release oneself or itself; become disengaged
turn-back
To prevent or refuse to allow passage or progress.
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  1. To prevent or refuse to allow passage or progress.
  2. To fold something back; to fold down
  3. To adjust to a previous setting.
beat-a-retreat
(Idiomatic) To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To leave hastily in the face of opposition.
back down
(Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
escape
To manage to keep away from; avoid
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  1. To manage to keep away from; avoid
  2. To avoid a serious or unwanted outcome:
  3. To get free; get away; get out; break loose, as from a prison
decamp
To go away suddenly and secretly; run away
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  1. To go away suddenly and secretly; run away
  2. (Intransitive) To break up camp and move on.
  3. To break or leave camp
fly
To flee; escape.
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  1. To flee; escape.
  2. (Informal) To gain acceptance or approval; go over:
  3. To avoid; shun:
run away
To flee by running
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  1. To flee by running
  2. To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
turn-tail
(Idiomatic) To turn away from someone or something, in preparation for running away; to reverse direction; to leave or flee.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To turn away from someone or something, in preparation for running away; to reverse direction; to leave or flee.
give-way
To collapse or break under physical stresses.
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  1. To collapse or break under physical stresses.
  2. To give precedence to other road users.
flee
To run away, as from trouble or danger:
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  1. To run away, as from trouble or danger:
  2. To run away or try to escape from
  3. To move rapidly; go swiftly
avoid
To take measures so as not to meet or see (someone):
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  1. To take measures so as not to meet or see (someone):
  2. To annul, cancel, make void, or nullify for some legal reason a transaction to which one is a party or owes an obligation. For example, a child who is under the age of capacity may disavow a contract and avoid her obligations under it because she lacks the legal capacity to enter into a contract. See also annul, voidable, and ratify. To annul, cancel, make void, or nullify for some legal reason a transaction to which one is a party or owes an obligation. For example, a child who is under the age of capacity may disavow a contract and avoid her obligations under it because she lacks the legal capacity to enter into a contract. See also annul, voidable, and ratify.
  3. To stay clear of; go around or away from:
evade
To avoid complying with or fulfilling:
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  1. To avoid complying with or fulfilling:
  2. To avoid doing or answering directly; get around; get out of
  3. To avoid or escape from by deceit or cleverness; elude
elude
To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill:
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  1. To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill:
  2. To escape detection, notice, or understanding by
  3. To avoid or escape from by quickness, cunning, etc.; evade
asylum
A place where one is safe and secure; refuge
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  1. A place where one is safe and secure; refuge
  2. A place of refuge, sanctuary, or shelter, especially an institution for the maintenance and care of people requiring special assistance. A place of refuge, sanctuary, or shelter, especially an institution for the maintenance and care of people requiring special assistance.
  3. A place offering protection and safety; a shelter.
cover
Strategic protection given by armed units during hostile action:
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  1. Strategic protection given by armed units during hostile action:
  2. Shelter or protection:
  3. A shelter for protection, as from gunfire
covert
(Ornithology) Any of the small feathers covering a particular area of a bird, as the bases of the larger feathers of a wing or tail
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  1. (Ornithology) Any of the small feathers covering a particular area of a bird, as the bases of the larger feathers of a wing or tail
  2. A covered or protected place; shelter
  3. A covering or cover.
harbor
A protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities
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  1. A protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities
  2. A place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter
  3. A sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.
haven
A harbor or anchorage; a port.
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  1. A harbor or anchorage; a port.
  2. A place of refuge or rest; a sanctuary.
protection
Payment made by racketeers to officials or law enforcement to avoid arrest or prosecution.
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  1. Payment made by racketeers to officials or law enforcement to avoid arrest or prosecution.
  2. Something that lowers the risk of pregnancy or infection, especially the use of a condom.
  3. One that protects:
refuge
An expedient to secure protection or defence.
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  1. An expedient to secure protection or defence.
  2. Shelter or protection from danger, difficulty, etc.
  3. Protection or shelter, as from danger or hardship:
sanctuary
A holy place, as a building set aside for worship of the divinity or of one or more deities
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  1. A holy place, as a building set aside for worship of the divinity or of one or more deities
  2. A particularly holy place within a church or temple, as the part around the altar, the holy of holies in the Jewish Temple, etc.
  3. A place of refuge or protection; asylum: orig., fugitives from justice were immune from arrest in churches or other sacred places
shelter
The state of being covered or protected; protection; refuge
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  1. The state of being covered or protected; protection; refuge
  2. A refuge, haven or other cover or protection from something.
  3. Something that covers or protects; protection, or place affording protection, as from the elements or danger
fallback
(Construction) A reduction in bitumen softening point, sometimes called refluxing or overheating in a relatively closed container.
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  1. (Construction) A reduction in bitumen softening point, sometimes called refluxing or overheating in a relatively closed container.
  2. Something in reserve that one can turn to for help
  3. A backup plan or contingency strategy; an alternative which can be used if something goes wrong with the main plan; a recourse.
pullback
Something that retards or hinders
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  1. Something that retards or hinders
  2. The act or process of pulling back, especially an orderly troop withdrawal.
pullout
The act of pulling out; esp., removal, departure, withdrawal, etc.
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  1. The act of pulling out; esp., removal, departure, withdrawal, etc.
  2. Change from a dive to level flight. Used of an aircraft.
  3. A withdrawal, especially of troops.
retirement
The portion of one's life after retiring from one's career.
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  1. The portion of one's life after retiring from one's career.
  2. Withdrawal from one's occupation or position, especially upon reaching a certain age.
  3. A retiring or being retired; specif., withdrawal from work, business, etc. because of age
withdrawal
The act or process of giving up the use of a narcotic drug to which one has become addicted, typically accompanied by distressing physiological and mental effects (withdrawal symptoms)
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  1. The act or process of giving up the use of a narcotic drug to which one has become addicted, typically accompanied by distressing physiological and mental effects (withdrawal symptoms)
  2. Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The symptoms of withdrawal include headache, diarrhea, and tremors and can range from mild to life threatening, depending on the extent of the body's reliance on the addictive substance.
  3. A retreat or retirement:
ebb
To weaken or lessen; decline
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  1. To weaken or lessen; decline
  2. To flow back; recede, as the tide
recede
To go or move back from a former position
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  1. To go or move back from a former position
  2. To decrease or diminish:
  3. To become less; diminish
retract
To withdraw or disavow (a statement, promise, offer, charge, etc.); recant
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  1. To withdraw or disavow (a statement, promise, offer, charge, etc.); recant
  2. To draw back:
  3. To take back; disavow:
retrocede
To cede or give back (a territory, for example); return.
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  1. To cede or give back (a territory, for example); return.
retrograde
To become worse; decline; deteriorate; degenerate
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  1. To become worse; decline; deteriorate; degenerate
  2. Having a rotational or orbital movement that is opposite to the movement of most bodies within a celestial system. In the solar system, retrograde bodies are those that rotate or orbit in a clockwise direction (east to west) when viewed from a vantage point above the Earth's north pole. Venus, Uranus, and Pluto have retrograde rotational movements. No planets in the solar system have retrograde orbital movements, but four of Jupiter's moons exhibit such movement.
  3. Having a brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement in the sky as viewed from Earth against the background of fixed stars. Retrograde movement of the planets is caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed. For example, the outer planets normally appear to drift gradually eastward in the sky in relation to the fixed stars; that is, they appear night after night to fall a little farther behind the neighboring stars in their westward passage across the sky. However, at certain times a particular planet appears briefly to speed up and move westward a bit more quickly than the neighboring stars. This happens as Earth, in its faster inner orbit, overtakes and passes the planet in its slower outer orbit; the appearance of moving counter to its usual eastward drift is thus simply the result of perspective as seen from Earth.
retrogress
To go or move backward.
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  1. To go or move backward.
  2. To move backward, esp. into an earlier, less complex, or worse condition; decline; degenerate
back
In, to, or toward a past time:
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  1. In, to, or toward a past time:
  2. In reply or return:
  3. To furnish or strengthen with a back or backing.
backpedal
To move backward by taking short quick steps, as in boxing or football.
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  1. To move backward by taking short quick steps, as in boxing or football.
  2. To move backward quickly, as in boxing to avoid blows
  3. (Intransitive, idiomatic) To distance oneself from an earlier claim or statement; back off from an idea.
backtrack
To retrace one's steps
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  1. To retrace one's steps
  2. To return to a previous point or subject, as in a lecture or discussion.
  3. To go back over the course by which one has come.
retrocede
To cede or give back (territory) to
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  1. To cede or give back (territory) to
retrograde
(Archaic) To move or seem to move backward.
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  1. (Archaic) To move or seem to move backward.
  2. Having a brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement in the sky as viewed from Earth against the background of fixed stars. Retrograde movement of the planets is caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed. For example, the outer planets normally appear to drift gradually eastward in the sky in relation to the fixed stars; that is, they appear night after night to fall a little farther behind the neighboring stars in their westward passage across the sky. However, at certain times a particular planet appears briefly to speed up and move westward a bit more quickly than the neighboring stars. This happens as Earth, in its faster inner orbit, overtakes and passes the planet in its slower outer orbit; the appearance of moving counter to its usual eastward drift is thus simply the result of perspective as seen from Earth.
  3. (Archaic) To go, or seem to go, backward
retrogress
To move backward, esp. into an earlier, less complex, or worse condition; decline; degenerate
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  1. To move backward, esp. into an earlier, less complex, or worse condition; decline; degenerate
  2. To go or move backward.
back down
(Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
renege
(Card Games) To fail to follow suit when required and able to do so; revoke
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  1. (Card Games) To fail to follow suit when required and able to do so; revoke
  2. To back out of an agreement; go back on a promise
  3. (Archaic) To deny; renounce
cop out
(Idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
fink out
(Idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
pull back
(Sports) To pass (the ball) into a position further from the attacking goal line.
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  1. (Sports) To pass (the ball) into a position further from the attacking goal line.
  2. To pull in order to reveal something underneath or behind.
  3. To retreat
retire
To withdraw or move in retreat
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  1. To withdraw or move in retreat
  2. To give ground, as in battle; retreat; withdraw
  3. To pay off:
withdraw
To cause to leave or return:
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  1. To cause to leave or return:
  2. To recall or retract:
  3. To leave or return, as from a military position.
Find another word for retreat. In this page you can discover 170 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for retreat, like: quail, run, reel, start back, pull back, reverse, retirement, removal, evacuation, departure and escape.

Sentence Examples

  • The army must retreat and the order to do so must be given.

  • At least it would be a retreat from all this.

  • She felt the urge to retreat to her room and stay there until he left again.

  • We must retreat or risk falling into an ambush.

  • A waitress neared them but beat a quick retreat when she heard their strained tones.

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