Retreat | Mean of retreat in English Dictionary

/rɪˈtriːt/

• Noun
• movement by soldiers away from an enemy because the enemy is winning or has won a battle
1. The forces are now in (full) retreat.
2. The army passed through the town on/during its retreat (from the battlefield).
3. He sounded/signaled the retreat. [=made the signal telling soldiers to begin a retreat]
• movement away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
1. Some of her friends were surprised by her retreat from public life following her defeat in the election.
2. He made/beat a hasty retreat [=he left quickly] when he realized he had entered the wrong office.
• the act of changing your opinion or position on something because it is unpopular
1. The mayor was forced to make a retreat from his earlier position.

• the act or process of moving away
1. Scientists continue to measure the slow retreat of the glacier.
2. the retreat of the floodwaters
3. Studies show the glaciers are in retreat.
4. Her political influence has been in retreat since the scandal.
• a place that is quiet and private
1. She went to her mountain retreat for a quiet weekend.
2. an idyllic/island/isolated retreat
• a trip to a place where you can quietly pray, think, study, etc.
1. We went on a corporate/spiritual retreat.
2. The church offers retreats several times a year.
3. She went on retreat for several weeks last year.
• Verb
• to move back to get away from danger, attack, etc.
1. When the enemy attacked, our troops were forced to retreat.
2. They retreated behind trees for safety.
• to move or go away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
1. He quickly retreated from the room.
2. After her defeat, she retreated from politics.
• to change your opinion or statement about something because it is unpopular
1. The mayor was forced to retreat from his original position.
• to move backward
1. As the temperatures warm, the glaciers begin to retreat.
2. The floodwaters are retreating.
• to go to a place that is quiet and private
1. They retreated into the next room to talk privately.