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Added 9 October 2026

retract

/ɹɪˈtɹækt/ verb

In Latin: retrahō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about retract at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure.
He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
Pull away from a source of disgust or fear.
Use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ).

Origin

From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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