verb

retreat

to retreat, to withdraw, to fall back

The army was forced to retreat.

The army was forced to retreat.

He retreated to the safety of his home.

He retreated to the safety of his home.

((from sth.)) ((to sth.)) to move away from a place or person The army retreated from the city.

Synonyms: withdraw, fall back, pull back; Antonyms: advance, proceed

From Old French 'retraire' (to pull back), from 're-' (back) + 'traire' (to draw). Same root as retract.

When you retreat from danger, you 're-treat' yourself to safety.

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