# retreating

/ɹiˈtɹitɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪtɹˈiːtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retreating
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

For teachers: moving back or withdrawing from a position or territory. Often used as a participial adjective to describe physical movement or a receding state.

## Examples

- 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 notes

- Often appears as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb.

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