Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [ri-treet]
- /rɪˈtrit/
- /rɪˈtriːt/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [ri-treet]
- /rɪˈtrit/
Definitions of retreat word
- noun retreat the forced or strategic withdrawal of an army or an armed force before an enemy, or the withdrawing of a naval force from action. 1
- noun retreat the act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion. 1
- noun retreat a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy: The library was his retreat. 1
- noun retreat an asylum, as for the insane. 1
- noun retreat a retirement or a period of retirement for religious exercises and meditation. 1
- noun retreat Military. a flag-lowering ceremony held at sunset on a military post. the bugle call or drumbeat played at this ceremony. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of retreat
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; (noun) Middle English retret < Old French, variant of retrait, noun use of past participle of retraire to draw back < Latin retrahere (re- re- + trahere to draw; see retract1); (v.) late Middle English retreten < Middle French retraitier < Latin retractāre to retract2
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Retreat
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
retreat popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 94% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
retreat usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for retreat
noun retreat
- air-raid shelter — a structure, often located underground, that is designed to protect people during an air raid
- antechamber — An antechamber is a small room leading into a larger room.
- apse — a domed or vaulted semicircular or polygonal recess, esp at the east end of a church
- archipelago — An archipelago is a group of islands, especially small islands.
- ark — In the Bible, the ark was a large boat which Noah built in order to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood.
verb retreat
- back — If you move back, you move in the opposite direction to the one in which you are facing or in which you were moving before.
- back away — If you back away from a commitment that you made or something that you were involved with in the past, you try to show that you are no longer committed to it or involved with it.
- back down — If you back down, you withdraw a claim, demand, or commitment that you made earlier, because other people are strongly opposed to it.
- back up — If someone or something backs up a statement, they supply evidence to suggest that it is true.
- backtrack — If you backtrack on a statement or decision you have made, you do or say something that shows that you no longer agree with it or support it.
Antonyms for retreat
verb retreat
- abound — If things abound, or if a place abounds with things, there are very large numbers of them.
- accessed — the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.
- accessing — the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.
- accuse — If you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did it.
- add up — If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.
noun retreat
- action — Action is doing something for a particular purpose.
- adulthood — Adulthood is the state of being an adult.
- advancement — Advancement is progress in your job or in your social position.
- aestheticism — the doctrine that aesthetic principles are of supreme importance and that works of art should be judged accordingly
- affray — An affray is a noisy and violent fight, especially in a public place.
Top questions with retreat
- where was couples retreat filmed?
- what does retreat mean?
- what is a retreat?
- where is couples retreat filmed?
- what happens at an acts retreat?
- where was the movie couples retreat filmed?
- where did they film couples retreat?
- what is retreat?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with r
- Words starting with re
- Words starting with ret
- Words starting with retr
- Words starting with retre
- Words starting with retrea
- Words starting with retreat