retreat

The movement of soldiers away from an enemy or a dangerous position.

• The general ordered a retreat.
• Enemy fire forced the troops into retreat.
• Their retreat from the valley took two days.

How to use it: retreat from somewhere (The army's retreat from the city began at dawn.)

Similar words: withdrawal

Opposites: advance

Common phrases: order a retreat, hasty retreat, army retreat

A quiet, private place where you can rest and get away from daily life.

• The cottage is our quiet retreat.
• They bought a retreat in the mountains.
• Her garden became a peaceful retreat from city life.

Similar words: hideaway, haven

Common phrases: quiet retreat, mountain retreat, private retreat

A period away from normal life, spent resting, thinking, praying, or studying quietly.

• We went on a weekend retreat.
• The monks hold retreats for visitors.
• During the retreat, we spent each morning in prayer.

How to use it: on a retreat (She spent the weekend on a silent retreat.)

Common phrases: spiritual retreat, meditation retreat, go on retreat

If soldiers do this, they move back away from an enemy or danger.

• The enemy troops retreated.
• Our soldiers retreated across the river.
• The army had to retreat after the attack.

How to use it: retreat from somewhere (The soldiers retreated from the village.); retreat to somewhere (The army retreated to the hills.)

Similar words: withdraw, fall back

Opposites: advance

Common phrases: retreat from somewhere, retreat to somewhere, retreat under fire

To move soldiers back from an enemy or a dangerous position.

• The general retreated his troops.
• They retreated their forces behind the river.
• The commander decided to retreat the army before dawn.

How to use it: retreat someone from somewhere (The commander retreated his troops from the exposed position.)

Similar words: withdraw, pull back

Common phrases: retreat the troops, retreat the army, retreat your forces