retract

5 definitions • 9 examples

to take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false:

retract an invitation/confession/promise

When questioned on TV, he retracted his allegations.

to pull something back or in:

The wheels retract after the aircraft takes off.

The cat retracted its claws.

to say publicly that you will not do something you had said you would do, or to admit that something that you had said was true is false:

[ T ] She had to retract statements in published articles.

To retract is also to pull something back or in:

[ T ] The pilot retracted the landing gear soon after takeoff.

to take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false:

retract a statement/comment/decision A political uproar followed, and he quickly retracted his comments.

retract an offer/a bid The EPA then retracted the offer with little explanation.

retract an endorsement/accusation/criticism