retreat
- noun
- /rɪˈtriːt/
- The army's retreat from the battlefield was marked by chaos as they hurried to escape advancing troops.
- beat a retreat
- military retreat
- force a retreat
Meanwhile, what's left of Kolchak's army is on a forced retreat towards Erkutsk.
- Meanwhile, what's left of Kolchak's army is on a forced retreat towards Erkutsk.
- That is simply personal responsibility and there is no retreat that can circumvent that.
- The Core's reaction was pure panic and immediate retreat.
Examples
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I got an order to cover the retreat of our group until it reached a certain point.
Academic text (2008) -
The Vandal king lost heart and started his retreat and soon his troops were routed.
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We have only two options: retreat or death.
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Cut off their retreat to the south.
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I'll stay behind and cover your retreat.
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The retreat of Soviet military power from Afghanistan is complete.
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- All three of our armies are in retreat.
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Such sights spoke of the desperate retreat of the enemy over the last few weeks.
Fiction book (1992) -
East of Victoria, the French retreat descended into total chaos.
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Meanwhile, what's left of Kolchak's army is on a forced retreat towards Erkutsk.
Synonyms
Moving people from a dangerous place to a safer place, for example during a fire
Moving people or soldiers out of a place, often quickly, for example troops leaving a war area
A planned removal of troops from fighting that happens after a ceasefire
A move by soldiers back from a place to regroup and plan
A planned military retreat from higher to lower ground
A decision to stop a journey and go back because of a problem
Antonyms
Idioms
How Far Back
Surface Forms
Etymology
Retreat comes from the parts re- 'back' and tract 'to pull', like in tractor. So a 'retreat' is a pulling back, which explains why it means the act of moving back, often in a military escape from danger.