retracted; retracting; retracts
1
: to draw back or in
cats retract their claws
Examples of retract in a Sentence
A cat can retract its claws.
The pilot retracted the plane's landing gear.
The plane's landing gear failed to retract.
Their college grants were retracted.
They retracted the job offer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Visible from the kitchen, where a kinetic window retracts upward with the turn of a wheel, the white angular piece pairs with the white upholstery on the patio lounge chairs and presents a moment of contrast against the nearby forest.
—
Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025
The space can seat up to 3,000 guests when the seats are fully retracted on the first level and 2,500 with reserved seating.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Though this piece was later retracted, the damage was done.
—Mackenzie France, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
The door handles of the Tesla Model S and Model X extend and retract, while the door handles on the Model 3 and Y mechanically flip out when pressed in.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retract
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025
The space can seat up to 3,000 guests when the seats are fully retracted on the first level and 2,500 with reserved seating.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Though this piece was later retracted, the damage was done.
—Mackenzie France, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
The door handles of the Tesla Model S and Model X extend and retract, while the door handles on the Model 3 and Y mechanically flip out when pressed in.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retract
Cite this Entry
“Retract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retract. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retract
verb
re·tract
ri-ˈtrakt 
1
: to draw or pull back or in
a cat can retract its claws
2
: to withdraw (as an offer, a statement, or a claim)
the newspaper retracted the story
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share