Meaning & use
retract
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To formally take back something you said or wrote, admitting it should not have been stated.
Grammar: Takes an object: retract a statement.
Patterns
- retract a statement
- retract a claim
- retract an accusation
The newspaper retracted the story after learning that the quote was invented.
He retracted his accusation and apologized.
The scientist had to retract the paper when others could not repeat her results.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To draw something back inside or toward the body or a larger part.
Grammar: Both work: the cat retracts its claws, or the wheels retract on takeoff.
Patterns
- retract something
- something retracts into something
The pilot retracted the landing gear after takeoff.
The cat's claws retract when it walks.
The antenna retracts into the side of the radio.
verbtransitiveformallegal
To cancel an offer, permission or promise that you made earlier.
Grammar: Takes an object: retract an offer.
Patterns
- retract an offer
- retract a promise
The company retracted its job offer after the budget cuts.
She asked the court to let her retract her earlier plea.
Once signed, the pledge cannot be retracted.
Word forms
| third person singular | retracts |
|---|---|
| past tense | retracted |
| past participle | retracted |
| -ing form | retracting |
Common combinations
- retract a statement
- The witness retracted her statement to the police.
- publicly retract
- The senator publicly retracted his remarks.
- retract a claim
- The journal asked the authors to retract the claim.
- retract the landing gear
- The plane retracted its landing gear soon after takeoff.
- fully retract
- Make sure the blade is fully retracted before you put the knife away.
- retract an offer
- The buyer retracted the offer after the inspection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- withdraw
- Withdraw is the broadest word and also covers pulling out of places and taking out money, while retract mostly means taking back words or pulling something in.
- take back
- Take back is the everyday way to say you wish you had not said something, and it sounds less formal than retract.
- recant
- Recant suggests giving up a belief or opinion, often under pressure, so it is heavier than retract.
- revoke
- Revoke means an authority officially cancels a right, license or law, while retract is usually something a speaker or writer does with their own words.
Opposites
Word family
- retraction noun
- a public withdrawal of a statement, or the act of pulling in
- retractable adjective
- able to be pulled back in
- retractile adjective
- able to be drawn back, used in biology
- retractor noun
- a tool or muscle that pulls something back
Commonly confused: retract or contract? retract or detract?
retract vs contract
Contract can also mean to shrink or draw together, but it does not mean to take back a statement as retract does.
retract vs detract
Detract means to take away from the value of something, as in the noise detracted from the music.
Practice
After the video proved her wrong, the host had to publicly ____ her earlier claim about the product.
Choose one answer.
Retract means take back a claim formally. Extract means pull out, attract means draw toward, and subtract means take away a number.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “retract”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.