SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Retreat [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. The act of retiring; a withdrawing of one's self from any place.

2. But beauty's triumph is well tim'd retreat

3. Retirement; state of privacy or seclusion from noise, bustle or company.

4. Here in the calm still mirror of retreat

5. Place of retirement or privacy.

6. He built his son a house of pleasure - and spared no cost to make it a delicious retreat

7. Place of safety or security.

8. That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat from sudden April show'rs, a shelter from the heat.

9. In military affairs, the retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position. A retreat is properly an orderly march, in which circumstance it differs from a flight.

10. The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy; or the order and disposition of ships declining an engagement.

11. The beat of the drum at the firing of the evening gun, to warn soldiers to forbear firing and the sentinels to challenge.

Retreat [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. To retire from any position or place.

2. To withdraw to a private abode or to any secluded situation.

3. To retire to a place of safety or security; as, to retreat into a den or into a fort.

4. To move back to a place before occupied; to retire.

5. The rapid currents drive, towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.

6. To retire from an enemy or from any advanced position.

Retreat [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable.

2. The place to which anyone retires; a place or privacy or safety; a refuge; an asylum.

3. The retiring of an army or body of men from the face of an enemy, or from any ground occupied to a greater distance from the enemy, or from an advanced position.

4. The withdrawing of a ship or fleet from an enemy for the purpose of avoiding an engagement or escaping after defeat.

5. A signal given in the army or navy, by the beat of a drum or the sounding of trumpet or bugle, at sunset (when the roll is called), or for retiring from action.

6. A special season of solitude and silence to engage in religious exercises.

7. A period of several days of withdrawal from society to a religious house for exclusive occupation in the duties of devotion; as, to appoint or observe a retreat.

Retreat [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field.

Retreated [\N] Webster's Dictionary 1828

RETRE'ATED , as a passive participle, though used by Milton, is not good English.

Retreated [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Retreat

Retreatful [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Furnishing or serving as a retreat.

Retreating [Present participle and verbal noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Retreat

Retreatment [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act of retreating; specifically, the Hegira.

Reversion Roget’s Thesaurus §145

N. reversion, return, revulsion, turning point, turn of the tide, status quo ante bellum, calm before a storm, alternation, inversion, recoil, retreat, regression, retrogression, restoration, relapse, recidivism, atavism, vicinism, v, revert, turn back, regress, relapse, recoil, retreat, restore, undo, unmake, turn the tide, roll back the tide, turn the scale, tip the scale

Adj. reverting, regressive, revulsive, reactionary, retrorse

Adv. a rebours

Abode Roget’s Thesaurus §189

N. abode, dwelling, lodging, domicile, residence, apartment, place, digs, pad, address, habitation, where one's lot is cast, local habitation, berth, diggings, seat, lap, sojourn, housing, quarters, headquarters, resiance|, tabernacle, throne, ark, home, fatherland, country, homestead, homestall, fireside, hearth, hearth stone, chimney corner, inglenook, ingle side, harem, seraglio, zenana, household gods, lares et penates, roof, household, housing, dulce domum, paternal domicile, native soil, native land, habitat, range, stamping ground, haunt, hangout, biosphere, environment, ecological niche, nest, nidus, snuggery, arbor, bower, &c. 191, lair, den, cave, hole, hiding place, cell, sanctum sanctorum, aerie, eyrie, eyry, rookery, hive, covert, resort, retreat, perch, roost, nidification, kala jagah, bivouac, camp, encampment, cantonment, castrametation, barrack, casemate, casern, tent, building, chamber, xenodochium, tenement, messuage, farm, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, toft, cot, cabin, hut, chalet, croft, shed, booth, stall, hovel, bothy, shanty, dugout, wigwam, pen, barn, bawn, kennel, sty, doghold, cote, coop, hutch, byre, cow house, cow shed, stable, dovecote, columbary, columbarium, shippen, igloo, iglu, jacal, lacustrine dwelling, lacuslake dwelling, lacuspile dwelling, log cabin, log house, shack, shebang*, tepee, topek, house, mansion, place, villa, cottage, box, lodge, hermitage, rus in urbe, folly, rotunda, tower, chateau, castle, pavilion, hotel, court, manor-house, capital messuage, hall, palace, kiosk, bungalow, casa, country seat, apartment house, flat house, frame house, shingle house, tenement house, temple, hamlet, village, thorp, dorp, ham, kraal, borough, burgh, town, city, capital, metropolis, suburb, province, country, county town, county seat, courthouse, ghetto, street, place, terrace, parade, esplanade, alameda, board walk, embankment, road, row, lane, alley, court, quadrangle, quad, wynd, close, yard, passage, rents, buildings, mews, square, polygon, circus, crescent, mall, piazza, arcade, colonnade, peristyle, cloister, gardens, grove, residences, block of buildings, market place, place, plaza, anchorage, roadstead, roads, dock, basin, wharf, quay, port, harbor, quarter, parish, assembly room, meetinghouse, pump room, spa, watering place, inn, hostel, hostelry, hotel, tavern, caravansary, dak bungalow, khan, hospice, public house, pub, pot house, mug house, gin mill, gin palace, bar, bar room, barrel house*, cabaret, chophouse, club, clubhouse, cookshop, dive, exchange, grill room, saloon, shebeen, coffee house, eating house, canteen, restaurant, buffet, cafe, estaminet, posada, almshouse, poorhouse, townhouse, garden, park, pleasure ground, plaisance, demesne, cage, terrarium, doghouse, pen, aviary, barn, stall, zoo

V. take up one's abode, inhabit

Adj. urban, metropolitan, suburban, provincial, rural, rustic, domestic, cosmopolitan, palatial

Phr. eigner hert ist goldes werth, "even cities have their graves", ubi libertas ibi patria, home sweet home

Regression Roget’s Thesaurus §283

N. regress, regression, retrocession, retrogression, retrograduation, retroaction, reculade, retreat, withdrawal, retirement, remigration, recession, recess, crab-like motion, refluence, reflux, backwater, regurgitation, ebb, return, resilience reflection, reflexion (recoil) 277, flip-flop, volte- face, counter motion, retrograde motion, backward movement, motion in reverse, counter movement, counter march, veering, tergiversation, recidivation|, backsliding, fall, deterioration, recidivism, recidivity, reversal, relapse, turning point

V. recede, regrade, return, revert, retreat, retire, retrograde, retrocede, back out, back down, balk, crawfish*, crawl*, withdraw, rebound, go back, come back, turn back, hark back, draw back, fall back, get back, put back, run back, lose ground, fall astern, drop astern, backwater, put about, backtrack, take the back track, veer round, double, wheel, countermarch, ebb, regurgitate, jib, shrink, shy, turn tail, turn round, turn upon one's heel, turn one's back upon, retrace one's steps, dance the back step, sound a retreat, beat a retreat, go home

Adj. receding, retrograde, retrogressive, regressive, refluent, reflex, recidivous, resilient, crab-like, balky, reactionary

Adv. back, backwards, reflexively, to the right about, a reculons, a rebours

Phr. revenons a nos moutons, as you were

Recession Roget’s Thesaurus §287

N. recession, retirement, # withdrawal, retreat, retrocession, departure, &c. 293, recoil, flight

V. recede, go, move back, move from, retire, withdraw, shrink, back off, come away, move away, back away, go away, get away, drift away, depart, retreat, move off, stand off, sheer off, fall back, stand aside, run away, remove, shunt, distance

Adj. receding

Phr. distance oneself from a person

Ambush Roget’s Thesaurus §530

N. camouflage, mimicry, hiding # place, secret place, secret drawer, recess, hold, holes and corners, closet, crypt, adytum, abditory, oubliette, ambush, ambuscade, stalking horse, lurking hole, lurking place, secret path, back stairs, retreat, screen, cover, shade, blinker, veil, curtain, blind, cloak, cloud, mask, visor, vizor, disguise, masquerade dress, domino, pitfall, trap

V. blend in, blend into the background, lie in ambush, lie in wait for, lurk, set a trap for, ambuscade, ambush, camouflage

Adj. camouflaged, hidden, concealed

Adv. aux aguets

Avoidance Roget’s Thesaurus §623

N. abstention, abstinence, for bearance, refraining, inaction, neutrality, avoidance, evasion, elusion, seclusion, avolation|, flight, escape, retreat, recoil, departure, rejection, shirker, truant, fugitive, refugee, runaway, runagate, maroon

V. abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt, not do, maintain the even tenor of one's way, eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with, keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off, take no part in, have no hand in, avoid, shun, steer clear of, keep clear of, fight shy of, keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance, keep out of the way, get out of the way, evade, elude, turn away from, set one's face against, deny oneself, shrink back, hang back, hold back, draw back, recoil, retire, flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to, beat a retreat, turn tail, turn one's back, take to one's heels, runaway, run for one's life, cut and run, be off like a shot, fly, flee, fly away, flee away, run away from, take flight, take to flight, desert, elope, make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off, break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from, slip cable, part company, turn one's heel, sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take french leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulate, cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce, escape, go away, abandon, reject, lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance, throw off the scent, play at hide and seek

Adj. unsought, lest, unattempted, in order to avoid, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild

Int. forbear, keep off, hands off, sauve qui peut, [French: every man for himself], devil take the hindmost, phr, "things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme"

Refuge Roget’s Thesaurus §666

N. refuge, sanctuary, retreat, fastness, acropolis, keep, last resort, ward, prison, asylum, ark, home, refuge for the destitute, almshouse, hiding place, sanctum sanctorum, roadstead, anchorage, breakwater, mole, port, haven, harbor, harbor of refuge, seaport, pier, jetty, embankment, quay, covert, cover, shelter, screen, lee wall, wing, shield, umbrella, barrier, dashboard, dasher, wall, fort, anchor, kedge, grapnel, grappling iron, sheet anchor, killick, mainstay, support, cheek, ballast, jury mast, vent-peg, safety valve, blow-off valve, safety lamp, lightning rod, lightning conductor, safety belt, airbag, seat belt, antilock brakes, antiskid tires, snow tires, means of escape lifeboat, lifejacket, life buoy, swimming belt, cork jacket, parachute, plank, steppingstone, emergency landing, safeguard

V. seek refuge, take refuge, find refuge, seek safety, find safety, throw oneself into the arms of, break for taller timber, create a diversion

Phr. any port in a storm, bibere venenum in auro, valet anchora virtus

Escape Roget’s Thesaurus §671

N. escape, scape, avolation|, elopement, flight, evasion, retreat, narrow escape, hairbreadth escape, close call, come off, impunity, loophole, path, refuse, vent, vent peg, safety valve, drawbridge, fire escape, reprieve, liberation, refugee

V. escape, scape, make one's escape, effect one's escape, make good one's escape, break jail, get off, get clear off, get well out of, echapper belle, save one's bacon, save one's skin, weather the storm, escape scot-free, elude &c, make off, march off, give one the slip, slip through the hands, slip through the fingers, slip the collar, wriggle out of prison, break out, break loose, break loose from prison, break away, slip away, get away, find vent, find a hole to creep out of, disappear, vanish, adj, escaping, escaped, stolen away, fled

Phr. the bird has flown the coop

Submission Roget’s Thesaurus §725

N. submission, yielding, nonresistance, obedience, surrender, cession, capitulation, resignation, backdown, obeisance, homage, kneeling, genuflexion, courtesy, curtsy, kowtow, prostration

V. succumb, submit, yeild, bend, resign, defer to, lay down one's arms, deliver up one's arms, lower colors, haul down colors, strike one's flag, strike colors, surrender, surrender at discretion, cede, capitulate, come to terms, retreat, beat a retreat, draw in one's horns, give way, give round, give in, give up, cave in, suffer judgment by default, bend, bend to one's yoke, bend before the storm, reel back, bend down, knuckle down, knuckle to, knuckle under, knock under, eat dirt, eat the leek, eat humble pie, bite the dust, lick the dust, be at one's feet, fall at one's feet, craven, crouch before, throw oneself at the feet of, swallow the leek, swallow the pill, kiss the rod, turn the other cheek, avaler les couleuvres, gulp down, obey, kneel to, bow to, pay homage to, cringe to, truckle to, bend the neck, bend the knee, kneel, fall on one's knees, bow submission, courtesy, curtsy, kowtow, pocket the affront, make the best of, make a virtue of necessity, grin and abide, grin and bear it, shrug the shoulders, resign oneself, submit with a good grace

Adj. surrendering, submissive, resigned, crouching, downtrodden, down on one's marrow bones, on one's bended knee, unresistant, unresisting, nonresisting, pliant, undefended, untenable, indefensible, humble

Phr. have it your own way, it can't be helped, amen, da locum melioribus, tempori parendum

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

0 KJV and 16 BSB verses contain “retreat”

Exodus 14:27

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea.

Joshua 10:20

And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.

So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities.

Judges 20:32

And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

“We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”

Judges 20:36

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.

2 Samuel 1:22

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

2 Samuel 17:13

Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.”

2 Samuel 22:41

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.

2 Samuel 23:9

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated,

Psalms 9:3

When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.

Psalms 18:40

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.

Psalms 44:10

Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us.

Psalms 56:9

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.

Psalms 70:3

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.

Psalms 74:21

O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

Proverbs 30:30

A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

Jeremiah 46:5

Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.

Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD.