withdraw

/wɪðˈdrɔː/ (bre, ipa) · /wɪðˈdrɔː/ (ame, ipa) · /wit͟h-ˈdrȯ with-/ (ame, mw)

withdraw — verb

  • withdraw,,present simple I / you / we / they
  • withdrawpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • withdraws,,he / she / it
  • withdrawshe / she / it
  • withdrew,,past simple
  • withdrewpast simple
  • withdrawn,,past participle
  • withdrawnpast participle
  • withdrawing,,-ing form
  • withdrawing-ing form

1. to take money from a bank account so that you can spend it, or to remove an obje

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to take money from a bank account so that you can spend it, or to remove an object from the place where it was stored or kept.

例句

Rafael went to the bank to withdraw some cash for the weekend trip.

withdraw + cash/money + from bank

Ada withdrew all her savings from the account to pay for the medical bills.

同義詞
  • take out

    more informal and common in everyday conversation; 'take out cash' vs. 'withdraw cash'

  • remove

    broader meaning; not used for financial transactions

  • pull out

    implies physical effort; informal; e.g. 'pull out a drawer'

反義詞
  • deposit

    the opposite financial action — putting money into an account

  • insert

    the opposite of physically removing something

文法句型

withdraw + noun + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

When specifying the source, 'from' is required ('withdraw money from an account', not 'withdraw money of an account'). The physical sense (removing an object from a place) is less common than the financial sense but follows the same pattern.

常見錯誤

❌I withdrew money of my account.
✅I withdrew money from my account.
💡'withdraw' always takes 'from', not 'of', to indicate the source.
❌She withdrew $50 from the ATM machine.
✅She withdrew $50 from the ATM.
💡'ATM' already means 'automated teller machine', so 'ATM machine' is redundant.

2. to stop communicating with the people around you and become quiet and focused on

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to stop communicating with the people around you and become quiet and focused on your own private thoughts, often because you are sad or worried.

例句

After the argument, Élise withdrew into herself and refused to speak for hours.

withdraw into oneself — become silent and socially disengaged

Talia noticed that her grandfather had begun to withdraw from family dinners and conversations.

同義詞
  • retreat into oneself

    similar but more literary; implies deliberate emotional hiding

  • clam up

    informal; means to stop talking suddenly, without the emotional depth of 'withdraw'

  • shut down

    informal; implies a complete stop in emotional expression

反義詞
  • open up

    to start sharing thoughts and feelings with others

  • engage

    to actively participate in social interaction

文法句型

withdraw + into + oneself

withdraw + from + people

用法筆記

Often describes a gradual emotional or psychological process, not a one-time action. Common collocation is 'withdraw into oneself' — the reflexive sense is unique to this meaning. Distinguish from sense 3 (MOVE BACK), which is about physical position.

常見錯誤

❌She withdrawed from the conversation.
✅She withdrew from the conversation.
💡'withdraw' is an irregular verb (withdraw → withdrew → withdrawn).
❌He withdrew himself from the group' (meaning he became quiet).
✅He withdrew from the group.
💡The reflexive 'himself' is used in formal or literary contexts but sounds unnatural in everyday speech for this sense.

3. to go back from a person or location, typically when conditions grow unsafe or a

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to go back from a person or location, typically when conditions grow unsafe or a decision changes.

例句

The soldiers were ordered to withdraw from the area before nightfall.

withdraw from [location] for safety or strategic reasons

Tariq withdrew his hand immediately when he felt the hot surface of the stove.

同義詞
  • retreat

    often implies being forced back by an enemy or difficult situation

  • pull back

    more informal; common in sports and military contexts

  • step back

    usually a short, single movement away from something

反義詞
  • advance

    to move forward, especially in a military context

  • approach

    to move closer to a person or place

文法句型

withdraw (intransitive)

withdraw + noun + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

Can be used transitively ('withdraw one's hand') or intransitively ('the army withdrew'). In military contexts, the intransitive use with 'from' is standard. Compared to 'retreat', 'withdraw' can imply a voluntary, orderly move rather than a forced one.

常見錯誤

❌He withdrawed from the room.
✅He withdrew from the room.
💡The past tense is 'withdrew', not 'withdrawed'.
❌They retreated from the area' (when you mean an orderly, non-forced move).
✅They withdrew from the area.
💡'Retreat' implies being forced back or losing ground; 'withdraw' can be neutral or deliberate.

4. to stop being involved in an activity, competition, or group, and leave it, usua

4.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to stop being involved in an activity, competition, or group, and leave it, usually after careful thought.

例句

Niran withdrew from the race after the doctor said his knee needed surgery.

withdraw from [competition/activity]

Amani decided to withdraw her name from the list of candidates for the role.

同義詞
  • pull out of

    informal; common in news and sports reporting; 'pull out of the deal'

  • drop out of

    implies leaving a course, race, or program; suggests the person could not continue

  • resign from

    specifically leaving a job or formal position; more permanent

反義詞
  • join

    to become a member of an organization or activity

  • enter

    to sign up for a competition or event

文法句型

withdraw + from + activity/organization/competition

用法筆記

Unlike sense 3 (MOVE BACK), this sense is not about physical movement but about ending a commitment or membership. The preposition 'from' is almost always used. Common objects of 'withdraw' in this sense are 'name', 'application', 'support', 'membership'.

常見錯誤

❌She withdrawed from the competition.
✅She withdrew from the competition.
💡The past tense for all senses of 'withdraw' is 'withdrew'.
❌He withdrew the competition.
✅He withdrew from the competition.
💡'from' is required when the meaning is 'stop participating in'.

5. to announce that a former statement or accusation is incorrect, usually to fix a

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

to announce that a former statement or accusation is incorrect, usually to fix an error or prevent further trouble.

例句

Asher formally withdrew his statement after learning that he had been given wrong information.

withdraw + statement/claim/accusation (formal register)

The newspaper had to withdraw its claim about the politician when the truth came out.

同義詞
  • retract

    almost identical in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in legal contexts

  • take back

    informal; the everyday phrase for admitting you were wrong

  • recant

    stronger meaning; implies giving up a belief or opinion, often under pressure

反義詞
  • assert

    to state something firmly and confidently

  • maintain

    to continue to say that something is true despite opposition

文法句型

withdraw + statement/claim/accusation

用法筆記

This sense is almost always transitive — you withdraw something (a statement, claim, accusation). It belongs to formal register and is typical of legal, journalistic, or official contexts. It implies a public or official correction, not a casual change of mind.

常見錯誤

❌He withdrawed his accusation.
✅He withdrew his accusation.
💡The irregular form 'withdrew' applies to all senses.
❌I withdraw what I said' (in casual conversation).
✅I take back what I said
💡'Withdraw' in this sense sounds overly formal for everyday speech; use 'take back' instead.