retreating
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɹiˈtɹitɪŋ// UK //ɹɪtɹˈiːtɪŋ// re·treat·ing
adj. moving back or away from a place or situation. You use this to describe someone or something that is withdrawing, often because of danger or a change in plans.
adj. moving back or withdrawing from a position or territory. Often used as a participial adjective to describe physical movement or a receding state.
The retreating army left the city at dawn.
The hikers watched the retreating tide from the safety of the high cliffs.
As the sun began to set, the retreating shadows stretched across the valley, signaling the end of the day's work for the farmers.
Usage
Often appears as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb.