English Reference
Adjective

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.


SIMPLE

The retreating army left the city at dawn.

CONTEXTUAL

The hikers watched the retreating tide from the safety of the high cliffs.

COMPLEX

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.

Such floods typically occur when meltwater collects in lakes around retreating glaciers, often held back by unstable ice or loose rock and sediment.

UN News· 28 Aug 2026

But she has no intention of retreating in the face of threats.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated