Definitions

retract

[ri-trakt] / rɪˈtrækt /

VERB

take back; renege on

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back down back off cancel deny disavow disown pull back recant renege renounce repeal repudiate rescind reverse revoke rule out take back withdraw

STRONG

abjure back countermand disclaim eliminate exclude forswear recall recede retreat retrograde sheathe suspend unsay unsend

WEAK

back out of call off change one's mind draw in eat one's words fall back forget it go back on have change of heart pull in reel in retrocede take in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge admit agree allow approve enforce go forward permit sanction

STRONG

accept advance forge include welcome

WEAK

corroborate emphasize reaffirm repeat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was forced to retract a paper published in the journal Nature in 2018 in which it claimed to have found evidence for the Majorana.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

The wee powered hardtop mechanism does retract, after a fashion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

“When confronted with her lie, she did not retract her statement, she doubled down,” the letter said.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

All of them have small core teams that expand and retract as projects demand.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

“Just hold the compliments, buddy—you may live to retract them. I’m still going to tell you what I don’t like about the way you’re going at this business. Qualified or not.”

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Vocabulary lists containing retract

Change Your Mind

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100 SAT words Beginning with "R"

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Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" (1849)

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