Meaning & use

retractable

adjective·Academic

Able to be pulled back in or drawn inward, especially a mechanical part.

See it in a sentence

The stadium has a retractable roof that closes automatically in bad weather.

She prefers a pen with a retractable tip so the ink doesn't dry out.

A note on using this word

"Retractable" describes objects designed to be drawn back mechanically, such as roofs, blades, or landing gear.

Words with a similar meaning

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Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

fixed

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