When an army retreats, it moves away from enemy forces in order to avoid fighting them. The French, suddenly outnumbered, were forced to retreat Retreat is also a noun. In June 1942, the British 8th Army was in full retreat
If you retreat, you move away from something or someone. `I've already got a job,' I said quickly, and retreated from the room
a/ Action of footwork used to step back, without either foot passing b/ To withdraw in the face of danger
The act of retiring or withdrawing one's self, especially from what is dangerous or disagreeable
To make a retreat; to retire from any position or place; to withdraw; as, the defeated army retreated from the field
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat; "the disorderly retreat of French troops"
(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"