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Meaning & use

withdrawal

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/
US/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    The act of taking something back or away, or of pulling out of a place or activity.

    Grammar: Countable for a single act: a sudden withdrawal; uncountable for the idea in general.

    Patterns

    • withdrawal from something
    • the withdrawal of something

    The withdrawal of troops took several months.

    Her withdrawal from the race surprised the fans.

    The company announced the withdrawal of the faulty product.

  2. nouncountablefinance

    An amount of money taken out of a bank account.

    Grammar: Countable: make a withdrawal.

    Patterns

    • make a withdrawal
    • a withdrawal from an account

    I made a withdrawal at the cash machine.

    There is a daily limit on each withdrawal.

    The bank charged a fee for the early withdrawal.

  3. noununcountablemedical

    The unpleasant physical and mental effects of stopping something you have become dependent on.

    Grammar: Often uncountable, with symptoms: withdrawal symptoms.

    Patterns

    • go through withdrawal
    • withdrawal from something

    He had headaches during caffeine withdrawal.

    Doctors watch patients closely during alcohol withdrawal.

    Withdrawal from the medicine must be gradual.

  4. noununcountable

    A pulling back into oneself, away from other people or social contact.

    Grammar: Uncountable: social withdrawal.

    Patterns

    • withdrawal from something

    Her teacher noticed a growing social withdrawal.

    Withdrawal from friends can signal depression.

    After the loss, his withdrawal worried his family.

Word forms

pluralwithdrawals

Common combinations

withdrawal symptoms
She had mild withdrawal symptoms after quitting coffee.
make a withdrawal
You can make a withdrawal at any branch.
troop withdrawal
The troop withdrawal began at dawn.
social withdrawal
Social withdrawal is common after a big disappointment.
withdrawal from a treaty
The country announced its withdrawal from the treaty.

Synonyms and how they differ

retreat
Retreat suggests backing away from danger or defeat, while withdrawal can be calm and planned.
removal
Removal means taking something away, but withdrawal also covers pulling out of an agreement.
departure
Departure simply means leaving, whereas withdrawal implies leaving something you were part of.
deposit
Deposit is the opposite action for bank money, so it is a contrast rather than a synonym.

Opposites

depositadvanceinvolvement

Word family

withdraw verb
to take back or pull out
withdrawn adjective
quiet and keeping away from others
withdrawing adjective
pulling back, as in a withdrawing room
withdrew verb
the past tense of withdraw

Commonly confused: withdrawal or withdrawn?

withdrawal vs withdrawn

Withdrawn is an adjective for a person who is shy and distant, while withdrawal is the noun for the act or the symptoms.

Practice

After the sports team announced its ___ from the league, fans were shocked.

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