lexicow

withdraw

/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪðˈdrɔː/·verb
An empty, palm-up hand waits at the tray of a cash machine. The machine pushes out a block of notes into the palm and the balance on the screen clicks down a step, the glow cooling. Out comes another block, and another — three times over — and each time the counter drops lower, 1,600 to 1,400 to 1,200 to 1,000, the fall plain to see. Value keeps moving out of the account into the world, and the number on the screen only shrinks.
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Definition

To withdraw is to take money out of an account, lowering the balance — and, more widely, to draw back or remove: troops withdraw, a runner withdraws from a race, a speaker withdraws a remark. It is built from with-, 'back', and draw, 'to pull'. In finance it is the opposite of deposit; take out too much, too often, and you deplete the account. The noun is withdrawal.

Examples

  • He withdrew just enough cash to cover the purchase.
  • The general ordered the troops to withdraw before dawn.
  • After the backlash, she withdrew her earlier statement.

Collocations

withdraw money·withdraw cash·withdraw from·withdraw support·withdraw a statement

Synonyms

take out·draw·remove·retract·pull out

Antonyms

deposit·advance

See also

Word family

withdrawal (noun)·withdrawn (adjective)

In TOEFL & IELTS

A high-value verb with several senses: take out money, pull back (troops/forces), take back (a remark or offer), and pull out of (a race or course). The noun withdrawal and the adjective withdrawn ('quiet, shy') are both worth knowing. Preposition: withdraw FROM. In account contexts, contrast it cleanly with deposit.