Definitions:

1. (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat noun
   • the disorderly retreat of French troops
2. a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position noun
   • With the battle going badly, the commander sounded the retreat.
3. move away, as for privacy verb
   • The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer
4. withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation noun
   • the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity

Synonyms:

• back away
• back out
• crawfish
• crawfish out
• draw back
• hideaway
• move back
• pull away
• pull back
• pull in one's horns
• recede
• retire
• retirement
• retrograde
• withdraw

NearBy Words:

• retreatant
• retreated