to withdraw himself

USAGE SUMMARY

"to withdraw himself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to someone physically separating themselves from a situation or group. For example, "John began to feel uncomfortable at the party, so he decided to withdraw himself from the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Lila took up the task willingly, but Ben, as much as he knew he loved his dog, began to withdraw himself from the post of Auf-walker, and more to Auf-scratcher – and even that became an occasion.

Stanford University

A person with knowledge of UCLA's academic policies said LiAngelo would have to withdraw himself from school since he is no longer a minor.

Los Angeles Times

Trump once said he wouldn't have hired Sessions if he had known he was going to withdraw himself from the probe, and compared it to betrayal in a Twitter post.

Vice

Former Football Association chief Graham Kelly, who brought the charges against the player, later claimed in his autobiography that Shearer had threatened to withdraw himself from the 1998 World Cup squad if the charges were upheld; a claim strenuously denied by Shearer.

Wikipedia

Sometimes even teachers made nasty comments unaware that it hurt these children as experienced by one COBET learner who finally decided to withdraw himself from classes: YOU ARE JUST BIG FOR NOTHING.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

When I ask Grint at what age he felt himself begin to withdraw into himself, he answers: "Four, I guess?

The Guardian - Film

"He seemed to withdraw into himself completely..

The Guardian

He doesn't take pressure well, I was told, and tends to withdraw into himself.

The New Yorker

In the early nineteen-nineties, when Owen was three, he began to withdraw into himself.

The New Yorker

"He began to withdraw into himself and spent more and more time on computers.

The Guardian

The death ended epic backyard football games, and Aaron, the youngest son, appeared to withdraw into himself.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to withdraw himself" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and often formal act of removing oneself from a situation, responsibility, or group.

Common error

Avoid using "to withdraw himself" when a simpler verb like "to withdraw" or "to leave" suffices. Overuse of reflexive pronouns can make writing sound awkward and overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to withdraw himself" functions as an infinitive phrase that typically acts as a verb complement or adverbial modifier within a sentence. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is grammatically sound. It emphasizes the subject's deliberate action of removing themselves.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to withdraw himself" is grammatically correct but relatively rare in modern English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an infinitive phrase indicating a deliberate act of self-removal, often used in neutral contexts such as news reporting and formal writing. While acceptable, it's important to consider whether the reflexive pronoun "himself" is necessary, as simpler alternatives like "to withdraw" may suffice in many cases. Related phrases include "to remove himself" and "to excuse himself", which offer subtle variations in meaning. When writing, ensure the added emphasis of "to withdraw himself" is intentional and appropriate for the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to remove himself

Focuses on the act of taking oneself away from a situation.

to absent himself

Emphasizes the state of being away or not present.

to excuse himself

Highlights the act of seeking permission to leave or depart.

to retreat

Implies a strategic withdrawal, often from a difficult situation.

to seclude himself

Focuses on the act of isolating oneself from others.

to detach himself

Highlights the act of disengaging emotionally or physically.

to separate himself

Focuses on creating distance between oneself and others.

to isolate himself

Emphasizes the act of becoming completely alone.

to recuse himself

Highlights removing oneself from a decision-making process due to conflict of interest.

to back out

Informal way of saying to withdraw from a commitment or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "to withdraw himself" in a sentence?

You can use "to withdraw himself" when referring to someone deliberately removing themselves from a situation. For instance, "He decided "to withdraw himself" from the negotiations after the disagreement.".

What are some alternatives to "to withdraw himself"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "to remove himself", "to excuse himself", or "to retreat".

Is it always necessary to include the reflexive pronoun "himself"?

No, often the simpler form "to withdraw" is sufficient and more common. Use "to withdraw himself" when you want to emphasize the deliberate or formal nature of the action.

What's the difference between "to withdraw" and "to withdraw himself"?

"To withdraw" is a general term for removing oneself. "To withdraw himself" adds emphasis, suggesting a more conscious and potentially strategic decision to remove oneself from a specific situation.