(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"
a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet
"He drove to his secluded cabin on the lake, which served as his favorite retreat from the city noise."
(military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
"The general blew his whistle as the retreat, ordering his men to fall back from the enemy lines immediately."
(military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset
"The evening retreat sounded softly from the guardhouse as the sun dipped below the horizon."
withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation
"the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"
the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)
"When the storm intensified, hikers retreated from the mountain trail to seek shelter in their cars."
The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
"The frightened soldiers began to retreat across the bridge as the enemy forces closed in."
In plain English: A retreat is a safe place where you can go to rest and get away from trouble.
"The soldiers retreated to the mountain for safety during the storm."
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"
To withdraw from a position, go back.
"The hyphenated form is sometimes used to distinguish retreat as an alternative spelling of re-treat, emphasizing a return action rather than a withdrawal."
Alternative spelling of re-treat
In plain English: To retreat means to move backward away from something dangerous or difficult.
"The hikers retreated from the stormy mountain peak until the weather cleared up."
Usage: Use retreat to describe the action of moving backward away from danger, an enemy, or an uncomfortable situation. Do not confuse this verb with treat, which means to handle something in a specific way or entertain someone.
The word retreat comes from the Latin verb retraho, meaning "to pull back." It entered English via the Old French forms retrait or retret.