wə̇thˈdrȯ, with- verb
Etymology: Middle English withdrawen, from with (I) + drawen to pull, draw — more at draw
transitive verb
1.
a. : to take back or away (something bestowed or possessed)
withdrew her acceptance of the invitation — Current Biography
withdraws her awareness and love from the one person … who most deserves her awareness and love — Lionel Trilling
b. : to remove from use or cultivation
lands withdrawn from commercial use — American Guide Series: Washington
2.
a. : to remove or draw out from a place or position
withdraw strip slowly from water — Monsanto Magazine
from his dispatch case … withdrew a document — Time
b. : to turn away (as the eyes) from an object of attention
withdrew his eyes from the scene
withdrew his glance
c. : to remove (money) from a place of deposit or investment
d.
(1) : to draw back or aside (as a curtain or veil)
(2) : to draw back (as a bolt) from a fastening
3.
a. archaic : to disengage or remove (oneself) from a place, position, office, or situation
withdraw yourselves and leave us here alone — Shakespeare
b. : to draw away or turn aside from some activity or interest : distract , divert
even so grave an undertaking could not wholly withdraw her from more congenial pursuits — Walter Bagehot
c. : to cause to return or retire from a place or activity
withdrew his son from the school
withdrew the troops from the attack
d. : to dismiss (a juror) from a jury
4.
a. : to eliminate from consideration or set outside of a category or group
withdrew his name from the list of nominees
had withdrawn one dogma after another from the domain of pure reason — G.G.Coulton
b. : to abandon the prosecution of : cease to proceed with
withdraw its objections to the … agreements — Current Biography
c.
(1) : to make a retraction of (an assertion or expression) : take back : recall , unsay
demanded that the speaker withdraw the word fraudulent
(2) : to recall or remove (a motion) from consideration under parliamentary procedure
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move back or away from a place, position, group, or person : retire
the dancers withdraw to a clear space at the farther end of the banqueting-hall — Lafcadio Hearn
was forced more and more to withdraw from the gaieties of the capital — Martha T. Stephenson
b. : to draw back from a battlefield or area of conflict : retreat
must either maintain ourselves there in force or withdraw — Atlantic
2.
a. : to remove oneself from participation or activity in something
withdrew from the church of her family — American Guide Series: Tennessee
withdrew from newspaper work to devote his full time to writing — Atlantic Bulletin
b. : to resign from or cease attendance at a school or course of study
withdrew after a year or so without taking a degree — Current Biography
c. : to become socially or emotionally detached
her mother … had withdrawn farther and farther into herself — Ethel Wilson
3. : to recall a motion from consideration under parliamentary procedure
Synonyms: see go