has been withdrawing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been withdrawing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action or process of someone or something pulling back or retreating over a period of time. Example: "She has been withdrawing from social activities lately, preferring to spend time alone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Now 77 and with Parkinson's disease, he has been withdrawing from public life.

The New York Times

It has been withdrawing from overseas ventures to focus on its British stores.

The New York Times

Reed Elsevier has been withdrawing from trade magazines in recent years, selling off 45% of the RBI operation since 2008.

The Guardian

They are delayed by hours, and they never follow the timetables, so it's kind of a chicken and egg situation – nobody wants to use them because the service is not good, and because nobody is using them the government has been withdrawing boats from the fleet," said the spokesperson.

The Guardian

A group of American civil rights leaders is pressing Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to go to a United Nations conference on racism and discrimination this summer to make a strong showing for the United States at a time when the Bush administration has been withdrawing from some international activities.

The New York Times

Perhaps most importantly, economists said, the government has been withdrawing income instead of pumping it into the economy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

(That bid has been withdrawn).

The New York Times - Sports

The film has been withdrawn in perpetuity".

The Guardian - Film

"The property has been withdrawn," he said.

The New York Times

That deal has been withdrawn from the F.C.C.

The New York Times

The penthouse has been withdrawn from the market.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been withdrawing" to describe a gradual or ongoing process of removing resources, support, or involvement. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being withdrawn and from where.

Common error

Avoid using "has been withdrawing" to describe a sudden or complete removal. This phrase implies a gradual, ongoing process, not an immediate action. For sudden removal, use "has withdrawn" or "was removed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been withdrawing" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing up to the present. As Ludwig shows, it describes the ongoing process of removal or retreat.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been withdrawing" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, used to describe an ongoing action of removing or retreating. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources. While generally neutral in register, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a gradual process, as opposed to a sudden action. Alternatives like "has been retreating" or "has been pulling back" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been retreating

Replaces "withdrawing" with "retreating", emphasizing a movement away from a position or situation.

has been pulling back

Uses the phrasal verb "pulling back" instead of "withdrawing", suggesting a deliberate act of reducing involvement.

has gradually reduced

Focuses on the gradual reduction of something, replacing the more abstract notion of "withdrawing".

has been diminishing

Emphasizes the decreasing nature of something over time.

has slowly decreased

Highlights the slow pace of the reduction.

has been curtailing

Suggests a deliberate limiting or restricting of something.

has steadily declined

Focuses on the steady decrease or fall in something.

has been phasing out

Indicates a gradual elimination of something over a period of time.

has incrementally removed

Stresses the step-by-step removal of something.

has lessened its commitment

Focuses on a reduction in dedication or involvement.

FAQs

How can I use "has been withdrawing" in a sentence?

Use "has been withdrawing" to describe an ongoing process of removing or reducing something, such as "The company has been withdrawing its investments from overseas markets".

What's a more formal alternative to "has been withdrawing"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "has been retreating" or "has been reducing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "has been withdrawing" the same as "has withdrawn"?

No, "has been withdrawing" implies a continuous process, while "has withdrawn" indicates a completed action. For example, "The troops have been withdrawing" suggests an ongoing retreat, while "The troops have withdrawn" means they have already completed their retreat.

What can I say instead of "has been withdrawing" to emphasize a deliberate action?

If you want to emphasize the deliberate nature of the action, you could use "has been pulling back" or "has been curtailing", which suggest a conscious decision to reduce involvement.