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retract

verb
re·​tract | \ ri-ˈtrakt How to pronounce retract (audio) \
retracted; retracting; retracts

Definition of retract

transitive verb

1 : to draw back or in cats retract their claws
2a : take back, withdraw retract a confession
b : disavow

intransitive verb

1 : to draw or pull back
2 : to recant or disavow something
Other Words from retract Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about retract

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Other Words from retract

retractable \ ri-​ˈtrak-​tə-​bəl How to pronounce retractable (audio) \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for retract

abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath. abjured the errors of his former faith renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown. renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal. I cannot forswear my principles recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught. if they recant they will be spared retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation. the newspaper had to retract the story

recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward. recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space. the flood waters gradually receded retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached. retreating soldiers retract implies drawing back from an extended position. a cat retracting its claws back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion. backed off on the throttle

Examples of retract in a Sentence

A cat can retract its claws. The pilot retracted the plane's landing gear. The plane's landing gear failed to retract. Their college grants were retracted. They retracted the job offer.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Yusupov landed the plane with no power in either engine, and the landing gear retracted. — Hannah Chubb, PEOPLE.com, "Hero Pilot Lands Plane in Corn Field After Bird Strike, Saving all 226 Passengers on Board," 16 Aug. 2019 Rather than proceed with litigation with the intention of winning, the plaintiffs in SLAPP suits rely on brute force and superior resources to convince defendants into retracting their comments or backing down completely. — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, "You can be sued for posting a negative online review," 1 Aug. 2019 According to Yahoo, the company has since retracted the cartoon and issued an apology on its Facebook page. — Tanya A. Christian, Essence, "YouTube Pulls Kid Cartoon With Racist Messaging," 26 July 2019 The rotation — after a turbulent start — had its anchor retracted. — Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, "A’s postseason hopes rest on patchwork pitching staff," 11 July 2019 There remains a driver airbag in the steering wheel, but the wheel (as well as the pedals) retract into the dashboard when the ESF 2019 is in self-driving mode, to reduce potential injuries from impacts with those protrusions. — Alexander Stoklosa, Car and Driver, "The Mercedes-Benz ESF Is a One-Car Showcase of the Way Safety Will Look in Vehicles of the Future," 20 May 2019 More than 10,000 people, including scholars and ordinary citizens, signed the petition, which was ultimately successful: The journal retracted the paper on May 2. — Sarah Wild, Quartz Africa, "How long-discredited “race science” research got published from two South African universities," 29 July 2019 The brokerage app Robinhood announced a savings product last year that wasn’t vetted by regulators and had to be retracted. — John Detrixhe, Quartz, "Fintechs are competing to offer the highest interest rates for savings accounts," 23 July 2019 On Thursday, the Luzerne County's manager and child welfare agency director wrote the superintendent, demanding the district retract the letter. — Fox News, "School district warns parents: Pay lunch bill or kids may go into foster care," 21 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of retract

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for retract

Middle English, from Latin retractus, past participle of retrahere — more at retreat

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More Definitions for retract

retract

verb
How to pronounce retract (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of retract

: to pull (something) back into something larger that usually covers it
: to say that something you said or wrote is not true or correct
formal : to take back (something, such as an offer or promise)

See the full definition for retract in the English Language Learners Dictionary

retract

verb
re·​tract | \ ri-ˈtrakt How to pronounce retract (audio) \
retracted; retracting

Kids Definition of retract

1 : to pull back or in A cat can retract its claws.
2 : to take back (as an offer or statement) : withdraw

retract

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