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Withdraw vs. Withdrawal — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on May 28, 2024
Withdraw is a verb meaning to take or pull out. Withdrawal is a noun referring to the act or process of withdrawing.
Withdraw vs. Withdrawal — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Withdraw and Withdrawal

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Key Differences

Withdraw primarily serves as a verb in the English language. It implies an action, whether it be removing funds from a bank account, stepping back from a commitment, or receding from a previous position. Withdrawal, on the other hand, is a noun. It represents the action or result of withdrawing.
While "withdraw" sets the action in motion, "withdrawal" describes the state or outcome of that action. If someone says, "I wish to withdraw from the meeting," they are expressing an intent. However, saying "My withdrawal from the meeting was sudden" describes the event after it has occurred.
The distinction between withdraw and withdrawal can be seen as the difference between doing an action and the consequence or manifestation of that action. To "withdraw" is to actively pull back or remove oneself, while a "withdrawal" denotes the resulting state or the process of pulling back.

Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Verb
Noun

Usage

Represents an action
Refers to the act or result
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Example

Withdraw money
Made a withdrawal from the bank

Related Terms

Withdrawing, withdrew
Withdrawals, withdrawal symptoms

Contexts

Banking, decision-making
Banking, medical, behavioral

Compare with Definitions

Withdraw

To remove or take away something.
He decided to withdraw his hand from the flame.

Withdrawal

The action of removing something.
His withdrawal of support shocked everyone.

Withdraw

Remove or take away (something) from a particular place or position
She prised open the lid and withdrew a slim diamond ring
Ruth withdrew her hand from his

Withdrawal

A method of taking out forces or troops.
The army's withdrawal was strategic and planned.

Withdraw

To take back or retract.
The company had to withdraw its faulty products from the market.

Withdrawal

The act of leaving or exiting a particular place or situation.
His withdrawal from the party left everyone puzzled.

Withdraw

To cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to dry out.

Withdrawal

The act of taking out money from an account.
She made a $500 withdrawal from her savings account.

Withdraw

To cause to leave or return
The government withdrew its diplomats from the capital.

Withdrawal

A reaction to abstaining from an addictive substance.
He experienced severe withdrawal symptoms when he quit smoking.

Withdraw

Break from a meeting or gathering;
We adjourned for lunch
The men retired to the library

Withdrawal

A retreat or retirement
The dinner guests' withdrawal to the den.

Withdraw

To remove (money) from an account.

Withdrawal

A removal of something that has been deposited, as in an account.

Withdraw

To recall or remove a motion from consideration in parliamentary procedure.

Withdrawal

(Informal) A condition likened to that which is experienced when discontinuing use of an addictive substance
Has been going through withdrawal since his favorite show ended.

Withdraw

To react physiologically and mentally to this discontinuance, often while experiencing distressing symptoms.

Withdrawal

The action of withdrawing something
The withdrawal of legal aid

Withdraw

(figuratively)

Withdrawal

The removal of people from a place, as in the removal of troops from a military position.

Withdraw

To cease to participate or be involved in.
He chose to withdraw from the competition.

Withdrawal

Detachment, as from social or emotional involvement.

Withdraw

(transitive)

Withdrawal

Discontinuance of the use of a drug or other substance, especially one that is addictive.

Withdraw

To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation.

Withdrawal

The physiological and mental reaction to such discontinuance, often characterized by distressing symptoms
Is going through withdrawal from opioids.

Withdraw

To take away or take back (something previously given or permitted); to remove, to retract.

Withdrawal

The act or an instance of retracting or revoking
Feared the withdrawal of his parents' permission.

Withdraw

To take (one's eyes) off something; to look away.

Withdrawal

Coitus interruptus.

Withdraw

To distract or divert (someone) from a course of action, a goal, etc.

Withdrawal

Receiving from someone's care what one has earlier entrusted to them. Usually refers to money.

Withdraw

To extract (money) from a bank account or other financial deposit.

Withdrawal

A method of birth control which consists of removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation.

Withdraw

(intransitive)

Withdrawal

A type of metabolic shock the body undergoes when a substance, usually a toxin such as heroin, to which a patient is dependent is withheld. Sometimes used with the substance as modifier.
Heroin withdrawal
Nicotine withdrawal
Caffeine withdrawal

Withdraw

Chiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place.

Withdrawal

An act of withdrawing or a state of being withdrawn.

Withdraw

Chiefly followed by from: to stop taking part in some activity; also, to remove oneself from the company of others, from publicity, etc.

Withdrawal

The sum of money taken from a bank account.

Withdraw

To stop talking to or interacting with other people and start thinking thoughts not related to what is happening.

Withdrawal

The act of withdrawing; withdrawment; retreat; retraction.

Withdraw

To stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to undergo withdrawal.

Withdrawal

The act of taking out money or other capital

Withdraw

Of a man: to remove the penis from a partner's body orifice before ejaculation; to engage in coitus interruptus.

Withdrawal

The act of withdrawing

Withdraw

An act of drawing back or removing; a removal, a withdrawal or withdrawing.

Withdrawal

Avoiding emotional involvement

Withdraw

(law) withdraught

Withdrawal

Formal separation from an alliance or federation

Withdraw

To take back or away, as what has been bestowed or enjoyed; to draw back; to cause to move away or retire; as, to withdraw aid, favor, capital, or the like.
Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything.

Withdrawal

The termination of drug taking

Withdraw

To take back; to recall or retract; as, to withdraw false charges.

Withdrawal

A retraction of a previously held position

Withdraw

To retire; to retreat; to quit a company or place; to go away; as, he withdrew from the company.

Withdraw

Pull back or move away or backward;
The enemy withdrew
The limo pulled away from the curb

Withdraw

Withdraw from active participation;
He retired from chess

Withdraw

Release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles;
I want to disengage myself from his influence
Disengage the gears

Withdraw

Cause to be returned;
Recall the defective auto tires
The manufacturer tried to call back the spoilt yoghurt

Withdraw

Take back what one has said;
He swallowed his words

Withdraw

Keep away from others;
He sequestered himself in his study to write a book

Withdraw

Remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, taking off, etc. or remove something abstract;
Remove a threat
Remove a wrapper
Remove the dirty dishes from the table
Take the gun from your pocket
This machine withdraws heat from the environment

Withdraw

Retire gracefully;
He bowed out when he realized he could no longer handle the demands of the chairmanship

Withdraw

Remove (a commodity) from (a supply source);
She drew $2,000 from the account
The doctors drew medical supplies from the hospital's emergency bank

Withdraw

Lose interest;
He retired from life when his wife died

Withdraw

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

Withdraw

To remove funds from a bank account.
She went to the ATM to withdraw some cash.

Withdraw

To move back or away from a place or situation.
The troops were ordered to withdraw from the area.

Withdraw

Leave or cause to leave a place or situation
UN forces withdrew from the province
Both countries agreed to withdraw their troops

Withdraw

Cease to take an addictive drug
For the cocaine user, it is possible to withdraw without medication

Withdraw

To take back or away; remove
Withdrew his hand from the cookie jar.

Withdraw

To turn away (one's gaze, for example).

Withdraw

To draw aside
Withdrew the curtain.

Withdraw

To remove from consideration or participation
Withdrew her application.
Withdrew his son from the race.

Withdraw

To recall or retract
Withdrew the accusation.

Withdraw

To move or draw back; retire
The lawyers withdrew to the judge's chambers.

Withdraw

To leave or return, as from a military position.

Withdraw

To remove oneself from active participation
Withdrew from the competition.

Withdraw

To become detached from social or emotional involvement
After the snubbing, he withdrew into a shell.

Withdraw

To discontinue the use of a drug or other substance, especially one that is addictive.

Common Curiosities

Is "withdraw" a noun or verb?

Withdraw is primarily used as a verb in the English language, indicating an action.

Does "withdraw" always mean physically pulling something out?

No, "withdraw" can also mean retracting a statement, leaving a situation, or removing support.

Can "withdraw" be used to refer to money?

Yes, "withdraw" can refer to the action of taking money out of a bank account.

How would you use "withdraw" in the context of a competition?

An example could be: "He decided to withdraw from the race."

Can "withdraw" and "withdrawal" be used interchangeably?

No, they cannot. "Withdraw" is a verb indicating action, while "withdrawal" is a noun referring to the act or result.

What does "withdrawal" refer to?

Withdrawal is a noun that refers to the act, process, or result of withdrawing.

Is "withdrawal" used only in medical contexts?

No, while "withdrawal" can refer to medical scenarios like drug cessation, it can also mean removing funds from a bank, leaving a place, or taking something away.

Are "withdrawal symptoms" related to banking?

No, "withdrawal symptoms" usually refer to the physical or psychological effects experienced when ceasing to take an addictive substance.

What's a common synonym for "withdraw"?

A common synonym for "withdraw" is "retract."

Which word would fit: "She made a _____ of $100"?

The correct word here is "withdrawal": "She made a withdrawal of $100."

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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