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with·draw (wĭth-drô, wĭth-)
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v. with·drew (-dr), with·drawn (-drôn), with·draw·ing, with·draws
v.tr.
1.
a. To take back or away; remove: withdrew his hand from the cookie jar.
b. To cause to leave or return: The government withdrew its diplomats from the capital.
c. To remove (money) from an account.
d. To turn away (one's gaze, for example).
e. To draw aside: withdrew the curtain.
2.
a. To remove from consideration or participation: withdrew her application; withdrew his son from the race.
b. To recall or retract: withdrew the accusation.
v.intr.
1.
a. To move or draw back; retire: The lawyers withdrew to the judge's chambers.
b. To leave or return, as from a military position.
2.
a. To remove oneself from active participation: withdrew from the competition.
b. To become detached from social or emotional involvement: After the snubbing, he withdrew into a shell.
3. To recall or remove a motion from consideration in parliamentary procedure.
4.
a. To discontinue the use of a drug or other substance, especially one that is addictive.
b. To react physiologically and mentally to this discontinuance, often while experiencing distressing symptoms.
[Middle English withdrawen : with, away from; see WITH + drawen, to pull; see DRAW.]
with·drawa·ble adj.
with·drawer n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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