What does withdraw mean?
Word: Withdraw
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Withdraw means to take something out or back, such as money from a bank. It can also mean to pull out of a race or contest, or to move back from a place.
Synonyms: remove, retreat, pull out
Antonyms: advance
How do you spell withdraw?
Syllables: with - draw
Tricky part: The th of with is easy to blur into a d when the word is said fast (widraw). The ending is -aw, as in draw, not -ow.
Watch out for: widraw, withdrow, whithdraw
Memory tip: Withdraw starts with the whole word with, so keep its th even though it runs straight into the d.
Withdraw in a sentence
Example 1: Papa had to withdraw some cash from the ATM before the trip to the seaside.
Example 2: Ritu withdrew from the race after twisting her ankle.
Example 3: The snail withdraws into its shell when you touch it.
Fun Fact
In withdraw, withhold and withstand, with keeps an old meaning, against or back, which it has mostly lost in everyday use.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word: withdraw
a) extract
b) deposit
c) spend
d) borrow
Show answer
b) deposit. You withdraw money from a bank and deposit it back in.
Word Makeup
Choose the correctly spelt compound word:
a) cupbord
b) withdraw
c) handshak
d) backgrund
Show answer
b) withdraw. In a compound each part stays whole: cupboard keeps board, background keeps ground and handshake keeps the e of shake.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
wardwhit
a) withstand
b) withdrew
c) withdrawn
d) withdraw
Show answer
d) withdraw. The jumble has an a and no n or e, which fits only withdraw.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Thomas decided to withdraw from the chess tournamant because his exams start next week.
a) tournamant
b) decided
c) exams
d) withdraw
Show answer
a) tournamant. Tournament ends in -ment, the same as payment and treatment.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A player who withdraws from a match ____.
a) is made the captain
b) plays as a substitute
c) takes a short break
d) does not take part
Show answer
d) does not take part
2. When the tide withdrew, the children found shells on the wet sand. What had the sea done?
a) grown warm in the sun
b) stayed exactly where it was
c) come higher up the beach
d) gone back out from the beach
Show answer
d) gone back out from the beach
