Definitions of retract
British English : retract If you retract something that you have said or written, you say that you did not mean it. VERBHe hurriedly sought to retract the statement, but it had just been broadcast on national radio.He's hoping that if he makes me feel guilty, I'll retract.
verb
- (transitive) to draw in (a part or appendage) ⇒ a snail can retract its horns , to retract the landing gear of an aircraft
- to withdraw (a statement, opinion, charge, etc) as invalid or unjustified
- to go back on (a promise or agreement)
- (intransitive) to shrink back, as in fear
- (phonetics ) to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue back away from the lips