retreating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retreating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of withdrawing or moving back from a position or situation, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The army was retreating from the battlefield after suffering heavy losses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I decide to join friends-of-friends for lunch in south Tehran, later retreating to one of their homes for some refreshing virgin mojitos-from-concentrate.

The Guardian

The states are clearly worried that the Abbott government is retreating from pre-school funding.

The Guardian

The ships became two of the most sought-after wrecks in marine history and Canadian divers and archaeologists have spent years seeking them, searches that had to be confined to a few weeks in summer when retreating ice shelves allowed ships to tow sonar through channels around King William Island, where the ships were believed to have sunk.

The Guardian

Downing Street said: "The C-IED training targets a particular tactic used by [Isis] terrorists who are well known for their intensive use of explosives when retreating.

The Guardian

When close friends or relatives have died suddenly, I have sometimes looked at the retreating back of someone in a crowd whose shoulders hunch similarly, or who flicks their hair as the deceased once did – the thought that it might be them rushing and passing in a second's optimism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pre-mobile, Bob Hoskins's It's Good to Talk was the last hurrah of BT's retreating landline empire.

The Guardian

Or retreating again and again on his own plans for tough-guy austerity – first in 2012, but again this afternoon.

The Guardian - Opinion

Associated Press reporters on the road to the government-controlled town of Artemivsk saw several dozen Ukrainian troops retreating with their weapons from Debaltseve.

The Guardian

Many of the retreating militants have murdered their so-called "wives" – the women and girls they held as slaves – and other captives as military offensives by Nigeria and its neighbours advanced, al-Hussein said.

The Guardian - Opinion

That pitch invasion was an outpouring of sheer jubilation, the home squad retreating to the tunnel to receive the congratulations of their hugely impressive, young manager, Eddie Howe, and celebrate raucously in the dressing room before emerging through the haze of Champagne to be presented effectively as top flight players.

The Guardian - Sport

Ryan Tunnicliffe picked Smith out 25 yards from goal and, as the Wigan defence stood off, he floated a stunning right-footed effort over the retreating goalkeeper's head and into the top left corner.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a strategic movement in military or business contexts, consider using "retreating" to convey a sense of planned withdrawal rather than a chaotic escape.

Common error

Avoid using "retreating" when describing abstract concepts that diminish or lessen. Using more precise verbs like "decreasing" or "diminishing" provides a more accurate representation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "retreating" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses (e.g., "is retreating") or as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., "retreating soldiers"). Ludwig AI confirms its valid usage across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retreating" is a versatile word, frequently used to describe actions of withdrawing, often in a strategic manner. Ludwig AI analysis validates its grammatical correctness. It appears most often in news and media contexts, and less commonly in encyclopedic or social media sources. When writing, ensure that "retreating" accurately reflects the intended meaning of strategic withdrawal and avoid its overuse in place of more specific verbs. Consider alternatives like "withdrawing" or "receding" for greater precision, as indicated by Ludwig data.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdrawing

Implies a more deliberate and planned movement back.

receding

Suggests a gradual movement backwards, often used in the context of water or a hairline.

falling back

Often used in military contexts, implying a tactical withdrawal.

backing away

Indicates a movement away from something perceived as dangerous or unpleasant.

pulling back

Suggests a more controlled and strategic withdrawal.

evacuating

Implies a removal of people or things from a dangerous place.

fleeing

Suggests a hasty and panicked departure from a dangerous situation.

regressing

Implies a return to a former or less developed state.

retrogressing

Similar to regressing, but often used in a more formal or technical context.

backtracking

Indicates reversing a previous course of action or statement.

FAQs

How to use "retreating" in a sentence?

"Retreating" is a verb in its present participle form. It can describe an action of moving back or withdrawing, as in "The army was "retreating" from the enemy lines."

What can I say instead of "retreating"?

You can use alternatives like "withdrawing", "receding", or "falling back" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "retreating" or "retreat"?

"Retreat" is the base verb form, while "retreating" is the present participle or gerund form. The correct choice depends on the sentence structure. For example, "They decided to retreat" versus "They are retreating now".

What's the difference between "retreating" and "escaping"?

"Retreating" often implies a strategic or organized withdrawal, while "escaping" suggests a hurried or panicked flight from danger. One example is: The general ordered a strategic "retreating" to consolidate resources. /s/escaping implies fleeing from immediate danger, the opposite to that.