Retreat meaning in English
Learn how to use Retreat correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to retreat: to back out, to withdraw, to recede, to move back
Jean retreated behind a desk when he saw Bruno approaching.
a retreat: a withdrawal; a hideaway, a place in a quiet location
Luna goes on a yoga retreat with all her pets and cousins once a year.
Examples
- "Spa Retreat Rules - Fifth Warning"
- "We sincerely hope that your stay at the Center for Rest and Peace is going tranquilly, and that you are enjoying the myriad rewards of our relaxing retreat."
- "I would be remiss if I did not mention that this company retreat will include team-building exercises led by an expert from the FunFactory Consulting Squadron."
- "In response to an anonymous suggestion placed in the suggestion box last week, I am pleased to inform you that a company retreat has been planned for next month in Half Moon Bay."
- "I would like to see some sort of corporate weekend retreat for the employees."
- "At our spacious and tranquil retreat, you will find a solution for all your earthly problems. Whether you have a serious alcohol or drug addiction, a troubled marriage, or are just severely disappointed in your gay children, we have a program for you!"
- "In spite of my blinding rage and abiding contempt for you, my yoga guru has advised me that expressing myself to you via a letter may prove therapeutic, which is why I am penning the present missive from my retreat, high atop the Himalayan peaks."
- "Subject: Corporate Retreat and Team-Building"
- "In spite of my blinding rage, my lifestyle guru has advised me that expressing myself to you via a letter may prove therapeutic, which is why I am penning the present missive from my retreat, high atop the Himalayan peaks."
Exercise 1
"Retreat" is a versatile term in English.
From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
"Retreat" is a versatile term in English.
From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
Excerpt: I would like to see some sort of corporate weekend retreat for the employees.
From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
In English, one does not "take their retreat" but rather they "retire" or "take their retirement".
This is a correct use of "to retreat". The term is often used in a military context to signal the departure of a person or group when they are pressured or attacked by another force. We can also use the term to indicate the same meaning in a different context. "The president was overwhelmed by questions about the war, and retreated to his office without answering any of them".
This is a correct use of the term "a retreat". Here the term is used as a noun to indicate a period "seclusion" or "solitude".
The term "to retreat" cannot be uses to indicate "withdrawing" or "taking out" money from a bank. The best term to define this action is "to withdraw".
Excerpt: I would like to see some sort of corporate weekend retreat for the employees.
Exercise 2
"Retreat" is a versatile term in English. From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
"Retreat" is a versatile term in English. From the list below, choose all the CORRECT uses of the term retreat.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
In English, one does not "take their retreat" but rather they "retire" or "take their retirement".
This is a correct use of "to retreat". The term is often used in a military context to signal the departure of a person or group when they are pressured or attacked by another force. We can also use the term to indicate the same meaning in a different context. "The president was overwhelmed by questions about the war, and retreated to his office without answering any of them".
This is a correct use of the term "a retreat". Here the term is used as a noun to indicate a period of "seclusion" or "solitude".
The term "to retreat" cannot be uses to indicate "withdrawing" or "taking out" money from a bank. The best term to define this action is "to withdraw".
Exercise 3
Icarus describes one of the charges as "a one dollar cash withdrawal in quarters".
In this context: "to withdraw" means "".
In this context: "to withdraw" means "".
Icarus describes one of the charges as "a one dollar cash withdrawal in quarters".
In this context: "to withdraw" means "to take out".
In this context: "to withdraw" means "to take out".
to take out: A "cash withdrawal" describes the process of "taking out" money from a bank account. Example: I don't like to withdraw large amounts of cash.
to retreat: The verb "to retreat" means to "move away" or "run away" from something. Example: The soldiers realized the battle was lost and began to retreat. To "retreat" can share a similar meaning with "to withdraw" in the physical sense, but not in a financial context.
to refund: To "refund (money)" is to "return" or "reimburse" it. The term can be used both as a verb or a noun. Example: I took the shirt back to the store and asked for a refund. Icarus is describing money which has been taken out, not refunded.
to credit: To "credit" money means "give" money to someone either in cash or in the form of a positive balance. Example: The store did not give me a cash refund, but they did give me credit for the price of the shirt. Icarus is describing money which has been taken out, not credited.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Retreat'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
