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to withdraw support

to withdraw support

7 4.3
To stop giving help and approval to a person or group
  • phrasal verb
  • /wɪðˈdrɔːr səˈpɔːrt/
translation icon : retirar apoyo
  • Particularly, the Saudis and the Kuwaitis have withdrawn their financial support from the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
  • gradually withdrew support
  • administration withdrew support
  • government withdrew support

Examples

  • The committee decided to withdraw support for the project after seeing the budget overruns.

  • The Reagan administration withdrew its support for military and dictatorial regimes when genuine democratic opposition sprang to replace them.

    Academic text (2009)
  • If not, we will withdraw our support.

  • The United States has withdrawn its support.

  • So they're telling unions to withdraw support, put pressure on the women.

  • We should stop aiding these despots financially and withdraw all military support.

    Blog text (33)
  • Enlightened Europeans have withdrawn their support for the Chechen rebels.

    Academic text (2008)
  • President Obama called off the construction indefinitely, slashing funding in 2009 and finally withdrawing all support in 2011.

    Academic text (2012)
  • In light of these drawbacks, in 1939, the British government withdrew its support for partition as impractical.

    Academic text (1996)
  • African and other non-aligned members, alienated by UN actions, successively withdrew their support and troops from the ONUC.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

to abandon
vsto withdraw support
401 3.8

Stop supporting an idea or plan

focuses on withdrawing backing rather than abandoning only plans or ideas
to back off
vsto withdraw support
  • Informal
356 2.8

Move away from someone, or stop taking part in something

implies a firmer stopping of help or approval rather than gentle retreat
to pull out
vsto withdraw support
206 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

emphasizes removing support or approval rather than only personal departure
to pull back
vsto withdraw support
162 3.4

To move yourself and things backward from a place, person, or situation

is about stopping help or backing rather than physical or positional retreat
to pull the plug
vsto withdraw support
87 5.5

To stop something from going on by removing support like money

is about ending help or approval in general rather than technical shutdown
to pull out of
vsto withdraw support
79 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

is broader, covering stopping approval or help beyond leaving a role
to back away
vsto withdraw support
59 3.9

Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure

is the act of stopping support regardless of hesitation reasons
to disassociate
vsto withdraw support
16 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

centres on withdrawing backing or support rather than only ending ties
to cut the cord
vsto withdraw support
  • Informal
5 6.6

To stop depending on someone or something and become independent

focuses on stopping help generally rather than on gaining independence
to dissociate
vsto withdraw support
3 6.7

To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea

is about stopping practical help or approval rather than formal separation

To suddenly stop helping someone, leaving them in a difficult situation

is the general act of ending support without the sudden shock detail

Antonyms

183 4.2

To publicly show support for a person or idea

To give help to someone during a difficult time

How Supportive

to endorse
183 4.2
to support
1.0
to withdraw support
7 4.3
to withhold
210 5.1
to criticize
701 3.3
to oppose
2.9

Surface Forms

withdraw support infinitive
withdrawing support present participle
withdraws support third person singular

Morphology

withdraw + support

The meaning 'to stop providing help or backing' is directly and compositionally derived from 'withdraw' (to remove/take back) plus 'support' (help or backing). This verb + noun combination follows a regular English compositional pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase withdraw support gives a clear image: someone holding up a ladder or a person and then pulling their hands back—withdraw (to pull away) and support (to hold someone up). So, when someone 'withdraws support' today, they 'stop providing help, approval, or backing'.