English Reference
Verb

withdrew

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /wɪðˈdɹu/ UK /wɪðdɹˈuː/ with·drew

v.the past tense of 'withdraw'. It means you took something back, moved away from a place, or stopped being part of a group.

v.the past tense of 'withdraw'. Refers to the act of removing something from a place, retreating from a position, or ceasing participation in an activity.


SIMPLE

She withdrew all her money from the bank yesterday.

CONTEXTUAL

The candidate withdrew from the race after the latest poll results were released to the public.

COMPLEX

Following the breakdown of diplomatic negotiations, the military command withdrew its forces to the original border to avoid further escalation of the conflict.

Usage

The past tense of 'withdraw'. Often takes the preposition 'from' when describing leaving a place or an agreement.

Pitfall
He withdrawed his applicationHe withdrew his application

Withdraw is an irregular verb; the past tense is 'withrew', not 'withdrawed'.

She later withdrew from the pageant when these issues came to light.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

The UN’s call comes as the Taliban marks five years since US forces withdrew from the country, effectively handing back power to the group in August 2021, after 20 years of war.

Al Jazeera· 15 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated