retract

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /rəˈtrækt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form retract

Third-person singular retracts

Past tense retracted

Past participle retracted

Present participle retracting

1. (transitive & intransitive) If something retracts, it pulls back into where it came out from.
   • Synonyms: dissappear and withdraw
   • Antonym: extend

   An airplane retracts its wheels after takeoff.

   As she stretched, the cat's claws extended and then retracted again.

2. (transitive) If you retract something you said, you take back or withdraw it.

   I retract all the accusations I made about the senator and sincerely hope he won't sue me.