Meaning & use
withdrew
Last updated
“withdrew” is a form of “withdraw”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Took money out of a bank account or took something back from a place.
Grammar: Past simple of withdraw; takes an object: she withdrew cash.
Patterns
- withdraw something from something
- withdraw money
She withdrew two hundred dollars from the machine.
The bank withdrew the offer after the inspection.
He withdrew his hand from the hot stove.
verbintransitive
Decided to leave a contest, group or agreement before it was finished.
Grammar: Past simple; often followed by from: he withdrew from the race.
Patterns
- withdraw from something
The champion withdrew from the tournament because of an injury.
Two countries withdrew from the treaty last year.
She withdrew her application for the job.
verbintransitive
Moved back or away from a place, or stopped talking to others.
Grammar: Used for armies or for people who pull away: the troops withdrew; he withdrew into silence.
Patterns
- withdraw to a place
- withdraw into yourself
The soldiers withdrew at dawn.
After the argument, he withdrew into his room.
The guests withdrew to the garden after dinner.
Word forms
| base form | withdraw |
|---|---|
| third person singular | withdraws |
| past participle | withdrawn |
| -ing form | withdrawing |
Common combinations
- withdrew from the race
- He withdrew from the race with a sore knee.
- withdrew money
- She withdrew money from the bank before the trip.
- withdrew an offer
- The company withdrew its offer last week.
- withdrew a complaint
- The customer withdrew her complaint after the refund.
- withdrew into silence
- He withdrew into silence after the bad news.
- withdrew troops
- The government withdrew its troops from the border.
Synonyms and how they differ
- retreated
- Retreated suggests moving back, often from danger or an attack, while withdrew can be a calm, planned decision.
- pulled out
- Pulled out is informal and common for leaving a contest or deal, while withdrew is more formal.
- removed
- Removed simply means took away, without the sense of pulling back from involvement.
- retracted
- Retracted is used for taking back a statement or claim, while withdrew also covers money and people.
Opposites
Word family
- withdraw verb
- the base form
- withdrawn adjective
- quiet and avoiding other people
- withdrawal noun
- the act of taking something or someone away
Commonly confused: withdrew or withdrawn?
withdrew vs withdrawn
Withdrawn is the past participle and also an adjective; use withdrew only for the simple past: he withdrew, but he has withdrawn.
Practice
Yesterday she ______ her name from the list of candidates.
Choose one answer.
Yesterday signals the simple past, which is withdrew. Withdrawn needs has or had before it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “withdrew”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.